Reocclusion Rates After Intra-Arterial Thrombolysis for Acute Stroke

Qureshi and colleagues retrospectively examined prospectively gathered data from a single center on reocclusion after intra-arterial thrombolysis for ischemic stroke.

Of 46 patients undergoing intra-arterial thrombolysis with 4 mg of reteplase (because they were ineligible for intravenous thrombolysis), 8 (17%) were observed angiographically to have reocclusion at the site of treatment. Reocclusions were treated with additional lytic drugs, snares, stents, or balloon angioplasty, after which six of the eight patients had angiographic improvement. However, six of the eight died within 3 months after thrombolysis, and the other two were severely disabled, indicating poor prognosis despite additional therapy when reocclusion occurred.