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 > or = 80 years. METHODS: Data (n = 1135) prospectively collected from the Canadian Alteplase for Stroke Effectiveness Study were reviewed and patients aged > or = 80 years (n = 270) treated with intravenous tPA for acute ischaemic stroke were compared with those aged or = 80 years and or = 80 years and in 40% of those or = 80 years than in those aged or = 80 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.