This meta-analysis looked at 4,944 patients who experienced an acute ischemic stroke. Researchers compared two types of intravenous thrombolysis: alteplase and tenecteplase. These treatments were given to patients between 4.5 and 24 hours after their stroke began, which is known as an extended window.
The study found that both medications increased the odds of good functional outcomes and better blood flow in the brain. However, both treatments also increased the risk of a symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage, which is a type of bleeding in the brain. When comparing the two drugs directly, tenecteplase showed lower odds of bleeding than alteplase, though this specific difference was not statistically significant.
Because this was a meta-analysis of existing trials, more direct head-to-head studies are needed to confirm the exact differences between these two drugs. Patients and doctors should know that while both treatments can improve recovery in the extended window, they both carry a risk of bleeding. Talk to a doctor to understand which treatment is best for a specific medical situation.
