Intravenous Alteplase for Stroke in Those Older Than 80 Years Old

Abstract

Selected patients with acute ischemic stroke > 80 years of age otherwise fulfilling the intravenous alteplase license criteria have a similar rate of symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage compared with younger patients and are appropriate candidates for thrombolysis. The higher mortality and the poorer functional outcome are consistent with the overall worse prognosis seen in the natural history of this age group.