Effect of intravenous alteplase before endovascular therapy for atherothrombotic stroke-related large vessel occlusion: subanalysis of the RESCUE AT-LVO registry

BACKGROUND: Whether intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) should be administered prior to endovascular therapy (EVT) in patients with atherothrombotic stroke-related large vessel occlusion (AT-LVO) remains unclear. This study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of IVT administered before EVT in this patient population. METHODS: We analysed the data from a multicentre registry of patients who underwent EVT for AT-LVO. Patients were categorised based on presumed mechanism of occlusion: in situ occlusion (intracranial group) or embolism from cervical artery occlusion/stenosis (tandem group). We compared the efficacy and safety of IVT before EVT in patients who received IVT (IVT stratum) and those who did not (non-IVT stratum). The primary outcome was a modified Rankin Scale score of 0-2 at 90 days. RESULTS: Among the 336 patients in the intracranial group, 99 patients underwent IVT. The rate of favourable functional outcomes did not differ between IVT and non-IVT strata (51.1% vs 47.6%; adjusted ORs (aORs) (95% CI), 1.18 (0.66 to 2.09)); whereas any intracranial haemorrhage (ICH) (10.1% vs 3.8%; aOR, 2.98 (1.01 to 9.26)) and mortality at 90 days (6.4% vs 1.3%; aOR, 4.66 (1.02 to 26.73)) were significantly higher in the IVT stratum. Among the 233 patients in the tandem group, 88 patients underwent IVT, with no significant differences in efficacy or safety outcomes between the strata. CONCLUSION: In patients with AT-LVO, IVT before EVT did not improve outcomes and was associated with increased risk of ICH and mortality in those with in situ intracranial occlusion. IVT before EVT may not be recommended in patients with atherosclerotic intracranial occlusions.