A study looked at two clot-busting drugs, tenecteplase and alteplase, for stroke patients with blocked brain arteries. Patients got one drug before a procedure to remove the clot. Researchers checked if the clot moved during treatment and how patients recovered after 90 days.
They found that patients getting tenecteplase had a higher rate of clot movement compared to those getting alteplase. About 19% of tenecteplase patients saw clot movement, versus about 12% with alteplase. This means tenecteplase was about 80% more likely to cause clot movement.
Clot movement was linked to a higher chance of good recovery. Patients with clot movement had about a 77% higher odds of a good outcome (like walking or living independently) after 90 days. However, clot movement did not affect the final success of the clot removal procedure.
The study did not report on side effects or safety issues. It was a smaller group from a larger trial, so more research is needed. The findings suggest tenecteplase may help move clots more effectively, which could improve recovery chances for some stroke patients.