When a person suffers a stroke caused by a large blood vessel blockage, every second counts. Doctors often use a procedure called mechanical thrombectomy (EVT) to physically remove the clot. However, new data suggests that combining this procedure with specific clot-busting drugs, known as thrombolysis, can lead to better results for many patients.
A review of data from over 2,500 patients found that adding either Alteplase or a specific dose of Tenecteplase to the standard procedure improved the chances of an excellent recovery. While both drugs showed promise in helping patients regain function, the study did not find that these additions changed the overall mortality rate or the rate of moderate recovery.
Safety is a major concern in stroke treatment. While the study noted that one specific lower dose of Tenecteplase increased the risk of any brain bleed, the other doses did not show an increase in serious bleeding. Because these results come from a network meta-analysis, researchers note that larger trials are still needed to confirm the best dosages and select the right patients.
