Does Adjunctive Thrombolysis Improve Outcomes After Mechanical Thrombectomy for Acute Stroke?

Two randomized trials failed to show a definite benefit of lytic agents following mechanical thrombectomy.

Mechanical thrombectomy (MT) has been shown to improve the outcome for select patients with large-vessel occlusion and an acute ischemic stroke. Current protocols allow for pre-MT thrombolysis for patients who qualify for thrombolysis. However, employing thrombolytic agents following the thrombectomy procedure might be useful to treat small residual clots or improve flow in the microcirculation. Two randomized, open-label, blinded-endpoint trials that test this hypothesis have now been reported.

In POST-TNK, 540 patients who had not received pre-MT thrombolysis were randomized to intra-arterial tenecteplase (0.0625 mg/kg) or no thrombolytic agent (control group) following MT for a large-vessel occlusion. Participants were limited to those wi…

Reviewing Author

Seemant Chaturvedi, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardBayer Pharmaceuticals; Novartis

Grant/Research SupportNational Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

Editorial BoardsNeurology; Stroke

Seemant Chaturvedi, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardBayer Pharmaceuticals; Novartis

Grant/Research SupportNational Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

Editorial BoardsNeurology; Stroke

Does Adjunctive Thrombolysis Improve Outcomes After Mechanical Thrombectomy for Acute Stroke?

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Reviewing Author