Background and purpose: Only a single study has demonstrated beneficial effects of intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) in stroke patients.
Methods: We evaluated the clinical outcomes of the 61 patients enrolled in the Alteplase Thrombolysis for Acute Noninterventional Therapy in Ischemic Stroke (ATLANTIS) study who were randomized to receive intravenous tPA or placebo within 3 hours of symptom onset.
Results: Despite a significant increase in the rate of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage, tPA-treated patients were more likely to have a very favorable outcome (score of < or = 1) on the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale at 90 days (P=0.01).
Conclusions: These data support current recommendations to administer intravenous tPA to eligible ischemic stroke patients who can be treated within 3 hours of symptom onset.