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Systemic thrombolysis with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator in acute ischemic stroke: first Croatian experiences

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Abstract

In September 2003, recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) for acute treatment of ischemic stroke was finally approved by the Croatian Ministry of Health. For the next 5 years, only three stroke units in the country implemented this therapy in their routine practice until summer 2008, when neurological wards in most Croatian hospitals started to treat acute stroke patients with systemic thrombolysis. We present a 2-year experience of thrombolytic therapy (2006–2008) in the stroke unit of the University Hospital in Zagreb, Croatian largest hospital, serving nearly one-fifth of the citizens of Croatia. Obtained data (vitals at admission and before administration of rt-PA; NIHSS and MRS scores at admission, 2 h and 7th day after rt-PA treatment, “time to door” and “door to needle” intervals, duration of hospital treatment as well as outcomes and complications of our 66 thrombolysed patients) are presented and discussed. We also present our results regarding benefits of this therapy as well as possible reasons for complications noticed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurology, University Hospital Center Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia

    Vesna Matijević, Domagoj Alvir, Branko Malojčić, Lea Unušić, Svjetlana Šupe, Marina Boban, Andrea Bujan-Kovač, Mario Habek & Zdravka Poljaković

  2. Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia

    Branko Malojčić, Marina Boban, Mario Habek & Zdravka Poljaković

Authors
  1. Vesna Matijević
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  2. Domagoj Alvir
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  3. Branko Malojčić
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  4. Lea Unušić
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  5. Svjetlana Šupe
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  6. Marina Boban
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  7. Andrea Bujan-Kovač
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  8. Mario Habek
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  9. Zdravka Poljaković
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mario Habek.

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Matijević, V., Alvir, D., Malojčić, B. et al. Systemic thrombolysis with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator in acute ischemic stroke: first Croatian experiences. Neurol Sci 31, 693–697 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-010-0237-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-010-0237-1

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