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.

How well does ASPECTS predict the outcome of acute stroke treated with IV tPA?

Weir NU, Pexman JH, Hill MD, Buchan AM,

Calgary Stroke Program, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada.

The authors measured the association of early ischemic change on CT scan, measured using the Alberta Stroke Programme Early CT score (ASPECTS), and functional outcome in 825 patients with anterior circulation stroke treated with IV thrombolysis within 3 hours of onset. ASPECTS predicted outcome in a graded fashion (linearly for ASPECTS 6 through 10; pattern ill-defined for ASPECTS 0 through 5) but discriminated individual outcomes weakly. Except perhaps when early ischemic change is extensive, clinicians should not estimate prognosis using ASPECTS alone.

Published 8 August 2006 in Neurology, 67(3): 516-8.
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