Role of tPA in Aphasia Recovery: A Meta-Analysis of Recent Studies

Background Tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) is a common therapeutic agent approved to treat patients with stroke. When the agent is administered within 4.5 hours of stroke onset, tPA administration helps to restore blood flow to brain regions affected by a stroke, thereby limiting the risk of damage and functional impairment. However, research evaluating the use of tPA on aphasia – loss of the ability to understand or express speech – a common post-stroke condition is limited. A meta-analysis of available evidence was performed to assess the association between the use of tPA on aphasia post-stroke.