ImportanceInternational guidelines recommend avoiding intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) in patients with ischemic stroke who have a recent intake of a direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC).ObjectiveTo determine the risk of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH) associated with use of IVT in patients with recent DOAC ingestion.Design, Setting, and ParticipantsThis international, multicenter, retrospective cohort study included 64 primary and comprehensive stroke centers across Europe, Asia, Australia, and New Zealand. Consecutive adult patients with ischemic stroke who received IVT (both with and without thrombectomy) were included. Patients whose last known DOAC ingestion was more than 48 hours before stroke onset were excluded. A total of 832 patients with recent DOAC use were compared with 32 375 controls without recent DOAC use. Data were collected from January 2008 to December 2021.ExposuresPrior DOAC therapy (confirmed last ingestion within 48 hours prior to IVT) compared with no prior oral anticoagulation.Main Outcomes and MeasuresThe main outcome was sICH within 36 hours after IVT, defined as worsening of at least 4 points on the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale and attributed to radiologically evident intracranial hemorrhage. Outcomes were compared according to different selection strategies (DOAC-level measurements, DOAC reversal treatment, IVT with neither DOAC-level measurement nor idarucizumab). The association of sICH with DOAC plasma levels and very recent ingestions was explored in sensitivity analyses.ResultsOf 33 207 included patients, 14 458 (43.5%) were female, and the median (IQR) age was 73 (62-80) years. The median (IQR) National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score was 9 (5-16). Of the 832 patients taking DOAC, 252 (30.3%) received DOAC reversal before IVT (all idarucizumab), 225 (27.0%) had DOAC-level measurements, and 355 (42.7%) received IVT without measuring DOAC plasma levels or reversal treatment. The unadjusted rate of sICH was 2.5% (95% CI, 1.6-3.8) in patients taking DOACs compared with 4.1% (95% CI, 3.9-4.4) in control patients using no anticoagulants. Recent DOAC ingestion was associated with lower odds of sICH after IVT compared with no anticoagulation (adjusted odds ratio, 0.57; 95% CI, 0.36-0.92). This finding was consistent among the different selection strategies and in sensitivity analyses of patients with detectable plasma levels or very recent ingestion.Conclusions and RelevanceIn this study, there was insufficient evidence of excess harm associated with off-label IVT in selected patients after ischemic stroke with recent DOAC ingestion.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE:The safety and efficacy of tirofiban during endovascular therapy in patients undergoing intravenous thrombolysis with recombinant IV tPA remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the safety and efficacy of intra-arterial tirofiban use during endovascular therapy in patients treated with IV tPA. MATERIALS AND METHODS:Using a multicenter registry, we enrolled patients with acute ischemic stroke who underwent endovascular therapy. Safety outcomes included postprocedural parenchymal hematoma type 2 and/or thick subarachnoid hemorrhage, intraventricular hemorrhage, and 3-month mortality. Efficacy outcomes included the successful reperfusion rate, postprocedural reocclusion, and good outcomes at 3 months (mRS scores of 0-2). The tirofiban effect on the outcomes was evaluated using a multivariable analysis while adjusting for potential confounders.RESULTS: Among enrolled patients, we identified 314 patients with stroke (279 and 35 patients in the no tirofiban and tirofiban groups, respectively) due to an intracranial artery occlusion who underwent endovascular therapy with intravenous thrombolysis. A multivariable analysis revealed no association of intra-arterial tirofiban with postprocedural parenchymal hematoma type and/or thick subarachnoid hemorrhage (adjusted OR, 1.07; 95% CI, 0.20-4.10; P ¼ .918), intraventricular hemorrhage (adjusted OR, 0.43; 95% CI, 0.02-2.85; P ¼ .467), and 3-month mortality (adjusted OR, 0.38; 95% CI, 0.04-1.87; P ¼ .299). Intra-arterial tirofiban was not associated with good outcome (adjusted OR, 2.22; 95% CI, 0.89 -6.12; P ¼ .099).CONCLUSIONS: Using intra-arterial tirofiban during endovascular therapy after IV tPA could be safe.ABBREVIATIONS: aOR ¼ adjusted OR; EVT ¼ endovascular therapy; IA ¼ intra-arterial; ICAS-O ¼ intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis-related occlusion; IVT ¼ intravenous thrombolysis; LVO ¼ large-vessel occlusion; mTICI ¼ modified TICI

Objectives: This study aimed to assess image biomarkers of early neurological deterioration in single subcortical infarction (SSI) without any relevant artery stenosis. Methods: Between June 2005 and December 2009, consecutive patients with SSI within 24 h of symptom onset were enrolled. Magnetic resonance angiography of the brain and neck was obtained from all patients to confirm the absence of any stenosis of relevant arteries. We defined early neurological deterioration (END) as neurological worsening by ≥ 2 points based on the initial National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score during the first week post admission or prior to hospital discharge. A multiple logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the independent predictors of END in SSI. Results: A total of 205 patients (109 males; aged 63.9 ± 11.0 years, range 39–90 years) were enrolled, of whom 158 (77%) remained stable or improved, while 47 (23%) showed neurological worsening. There were significant differences in the maximum diameter of the largest area on an axial view and in the number of slices showing cerebral infarction on a transverse plane between patients with and without END. A adjusting for age, hypercholesterolemia, hemoglobin, NIHSS on admission and these magnetic resonance imaging characteristics, the occurrence of having three or more slices showing the cerebral infarction on a transverse plane was an independent predictor of END in SSI without relevant artery stenosis (1 vs. 3; OR 14.281; 95% CI 1.76–115.8; p = 0.013, 1 vs. 4; OR 14.04; 95% CI 1.65–119.57; p = 0.016). Conclusion: The longitudinal length of the infarcted lesion along the perforating artery predicts END in cases of acute SSI without any relevant artery stenosis.