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| Microbubbles speed ultrasound-enhanced clot lysis in stroke |
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13 February 2006
The addition of galactose-based microbubbles to ultrasound-enhanced thrombolysis leads to a more rapid and complete restoration of blood flow, according to a study of acute stroke patients, with a trend toward better short- and long-term outcome. The 2-hour complete recanalisation rate was significantly higher with microbubbles (54.4%) compared with t-PA plus ultrasound (40.8%) and t-PA alone (23.9%). Microbubble administration also reduced the time to beginning of recanalisation. At 24 hours, improvement of greater than 4 points in the NIH Stroke Scale was seen in 55% of microbubble-ultrasound-t-PA patients versus 31% of t-PA-ultrasound and 41% of t-PA-only patients. Microbubble therapy was safe; only one patient in the microbubble group experienced symptomatic intracranial haemorrhage compared with two in the t-PA group and one in the t-PA plus ultrasound group.
"The most relevant conclusion of this study," said Dr Molina, "is that transcranial ultrasound-enhanced thrombolysis may be further accelerated with the administration of microbubbles, leading to a more rapid and effective restoration of blood flow in stroke patients treated with t-PA."
Reference:
Stroke 2006; 37 (2): 425-429.
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