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- Sanne M Zinkstok, Mervyn D I Vergouwen, Stefan T Engelter, Philippe A Lyrer, Leo H Bonati, Marcel Arnold, Heinrich P Mattle, Urs Fischer, Hakan Sarikaya, Ralf W Baumgartner, Dimitrios Georgiadis, Céline Odier, Patrik Michel, Jukka Putaala, Martin Griebe, Nils Wahlgren, Niaz Ahmed, Nan van Geloven, Rob J de Haan, and Paul J Nederkoorn.
- Department of Neurology, H2.216, Academic Medical Center, PO Box 22660, 1100 DD Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
- Stroke. 2011 Sep 1;42(9):2515-20.
Background And PurposeThe safety and efficacy of thrombolysis in cervical artery dissection (CAD) are controversial. The aim of this meta-analysis was to pool all individual patient data and provide a valid estimate of safety and outcome of thrombolysis in CAD.MethodsWe performed a systematic literature search on intravenous and intra-arterial thrombolysis in CAD. We calculated the rates of pooled symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage and mortality and indirectly compared them with matched controls from the Safe Implementation of Thrombolysis in Stroke-International Stroke Thrombolysis Register. We applied multivariate regression models to identify predictors of excellent (modified Rankin Scale=0 to 1) and favorable (modified Rankin Scale=0 to 2) outcome.ResultsWe obtained individual patient data of 180 patients from 14 retrospective series and 22 case reports. Patients were predominantly female (68%), with a mean±SD age of 46±11 years. Most patients presented with severe stroke (median National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score=16). Treatment was intravenous thrombolysis in 67% and intra-arterial thrombolysis in 33%. Median follow-up was 3 months. The pooled symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage rate was 3.1% (95% CI, 1.3 to 7.2). Overall mortality was 8.1% (95% CI, 4.9 to 13.2), and 41.0% (95% CI, 31.4 to 51.4) had an excellent outcome. Stroke severity was a strong predictor of outcome. Overlapping confidence intervals of end points indicated no relevant differences with matched controls from the Safe Implementation of Thrombolysis in Stroke-International Stroke Thrombolysis Register.ConclusionsSafety and outcome of thrombolysis in patients with CAD-related stroke appear similar to those for stroke from all causes. Based on our findings, thrombolysis should not be withheld in patients with CAD.
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