[Promising new treatment for acute ischemic stroke--Sonothrombolysis can enhance the effect of intravenous thrombolysis]

Lakartidningen. 2015 Feb 3:112:C9LF.
[Article in Swedish]

Abstract

Intravenous thrombolysis has been a break-through for treatment of acute ischemic stroke. However, total recanalization is only achieved in 18%. Sonothrombolysis aims at enhancing the recanalization effect by adding continuous transcranial ultrasound. Sonothrombolysis may facilitate the recanalization rate without increased risk of intracerebral hemorrhage. This further results in decreased risk of disability compared with only intravenous thrombolysis. Intravenously applied micro-bubbles is an additive treatment to sonothrombolysis which might further increase the recanalization rate but perhaps at the expense of increased risk of intracerebral hemorrhage. In a case-series at Umeå Stroke Center, we report the results of the first 20 ischemic stroke patients treated with sonothrombolysis in Sweden. Our initial results look promising with recanalization rates similar to earlier published data. No intracerebral hemorrhage occurred among our sonothrombolysed patients.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Combined Modality Therapy / methods
  • Fibrinolytic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Microbubbles
  • Stroke / diagnostic imaging*
  • Stroke / drug therapy
  • Thrombolytic Therapy / methods
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Ultrasonic Therapy / methods*
  • Ultrasonography

Substances

  • Fibrinolytic Agents