Stroke is the leading cause of life-threatening neurologic disease and the third leading cause of death in the United States, with an incidence of 500,000 cases per year . In the past there was no effective treatment. Recently intra-arterial thrombolysis has emerged as a promising treatment for strokes. At University Hospitals of Cleveland , in a trial of intra-arterial urokinase , 85% of patients showed angiographic evidence of recanalization and 61% showed excellent or good neurologic improvement. A 15% complication rate and 15% death rate was noted however. Further studies will be needed to prove whether this is an effective treatment.
P A view of left internal carotid artery (ICA) injection demonstrates occlusion of the distal M1 segment of the middle cerebral artery (MCA).
PA view of a left ICA injection, after the administration of 500,000 units of intra-arterial urokinase, demonstates normal filling of the left MCA and its branches.
Patient had right hemiparesis and aphasia as leading symptoms.
Stroke is the leading cause of life-threatening neurologic disease and the third leading cause of death in the United States, with an incidence of 500,000 cases per year . In the past there was no effective treatment. Recently intra-arterial thrombolysis has emerged as a promising treatment for strokes. At University Hospitals of Cleveland , in a trial of intra-arterial urokinase , 85% of patients showed angiographic evidence of recanalization and 61% showed excellent or good neurologic improvement. A 15% complication rate and 15% death rate was noted however. Further studies will be needed to prove whether this is an effective treatment.
P A view of left internal carotid artery (ICA) injection demonstrates occlusion of the distal M1 segment of the middle cerebral artery (MCA).
PA view of a left ICA injection, after the administration of 500,000 units of intra-arterial urokinase, demonstates normal filling of the left MCA and its branches.
Patient had right hemiparesis and aphasia as leading symptoms.