Hyperglycemia, acute ischemic stroke, and thrombolytic therapy

Transl Stroke Res. 2014 Aug;5(4):442-453. doi: 10.1007/s12975-014-0336-z. Epub 2014 Mar 13.

Abstract

Ischemic stroke is a leading cause of disability and is considered now the fourth leading cause of death. Many clinical trials have shown that stroke patients with acute elevation in blood glucose at onset of stroke suffer worse functional outcomes, longer in-hospital stay, and higher mortality rates. The only therapeutic hope for these patients is the rapid restoration of blood flow to the ischemic tissue through intravenous administration of the only currently proven effective therapy, tissue plasminogen activator (tPA). However, even this option is associated with the increased risk of intracerebral hemorrhage. Nonetheless, the underlying mechanisms through which hyperglycemia (HG) and tPA worsen the neurovascular injury after stroke are not fully understood. Accordingly, this review summarizes the latest updates and recommendations about the management of HG and coadministration of tPA in a clinical setting while focusing more on the various experimental models studying (1) the effect of HG on stroke outcomes, (2) the potential mechanisms involved in worsening the neurovascular injury, (3) the different therapeutic strategies employed to ameliorate the injury, and finally, (4) the interaction between HG and tPA. Developing therapeutic strategies to reduce the hemorrhage risk with tPA in hyperglycemic setting is of great clinical importance. This can best be achieved by conducting robust preclinical studies evaluating the interaction between tPA and other therapeutics in order to develop potential therapeutic strategies with high translational impact.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Animals
  • Brain Ischemia / complications*
  • Brain Ischemia / drug therapy*
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Female
  • Fibrinolytic Agents / adverse effects
  • Fibrinolytic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Humans
  • Hyperglycemia / complications*
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Rats
  • Stroke / complications*
  • Stroke / drug therapy*
  • Thrombolytic Therapy*
  • Tissue Plasminogen Activator / adverse effects
  • Tissue Plasminogen Activator / therapeutic use*

Substances

  • Fibrinolytic Agents
  • Tissue Plasminogen Activator