Thrombolysis in stroke patients aged 80 years and older Swiss survey of IV thrombolysis

This databank-based, multicenter study compared all stroke patients with IV tissue plasminogen activator aged ≥80 years (n 38) and those <80 years old (n 287). Three-month mortality was higher in older patients. Favorable outcome (modified Rankin scale ≤1) and intracranial hemorrhage (asymptomatic/symptomatic/fatal) were similarly frequent in both groups. Logistic regression showed that stroke severity, time to thrombolysis, glucose level, and history of coronary heart disease independently predicted outcome, whereas age did not.