Stroke Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Stroke, including details on treatment, recovery, rehabilitation, signs, symptoms.

Predicting abnormal coagulation in ischemic stroke: reducing delay in rt-PA use.

Gottesman RF, Alt J, Wityk RJ, Llinas RH

Cerebrovascular Division, Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD, USA.

Normal prothrombin time (PT) and partial thromboplastin time (PTT) are recommended for administration of recombinant tissue-plasminogen activator (rt-PA) in stroke, but waiting for results can delay use. We examined the charts of 365 stroke patients to assess predetermined risk factors associated with elevated PT/PTT. Elevated PT/PTT can be predicted in patients taking warfarin or heparin/heparinoid or on hemodialysis, according to emergency department triage, with 100% sensitivity and 94.7% specificity. These results could be applied to rt-PA candidates and reduce potential delays.

Published 14 November 2006 in Neurology, 67(9): 1665-7.
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