Thrombolysis in patients older than 80 years with acute ischaemic stroke: Canadian Alteplase for Stroke Effectiveness Study

Background: The benefit of intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) given within 3 h of acute ischaemic stroke to patients over 80 years of age is uncertain. Aim: To examine the clinical characteristics and complications and the predictors of outcome after intravenous tPA treatment in patients aged >= 80 years. Methods: Data (n = 1135) prospectively collected from the Canadian Alteplase for Stroke Effectiveness Study were reviewed and patients aged >= 80 years (n = 270) treated with intravenous tPA for acute ischaemic stroke were compared with those aged,80 years (n = 865). Results: The risk of symptomatic intracerebral haemorrhage did not differ between patients aged >= 80 years and,80 years (4.4% (95% CI 2.3 to 7.6) v 4.6% (95% CI 3.3 to 6.2), =1.0). Favourable outcome, defined as a modified Rankin Score of 0-1 at 90 days, was seen in 26% of patients aged >= 80 years and in 40% of those < 80 (p < 0.001). The following baseline characteristics were found to be more common in those aged >= 80 years than in those aged,80 years: atrial fibrillation (37% v 18%; p < 0.001); congestive heart failure (11% v 6%; p=0.004); hypertension (59% v 48%; p = 0.002); and severity of stroke with a median National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score of 16 v 14 (p =0.004). In the multivariable logistic regression analysis, age >= 0 years, stroke severity, baseline Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score and glucose level were found to be the major independent predictors of outcome. Conclusion: In carefully selected elderly patients, the use of intravenous tPA was not found to be associated with an increased risk of symptomatic intracerebral haemorrhage. Age-related differences were seen in the clinical characteristics and outcome in the elderly population.