Ongoing Clinical Trials for Acute Ischemic Stroke Treated with Thromboembolectomy
Currently, there is 1 ongoing clinical trial investigating additional treatments for patients who have undergone thromboembolectomy, a procedure to remove blood clots from brain vessels. This trial is exploring whether adding a clot-dissolving medication called Alteplase can improve recovery outcomes for stroke patients after the mechanical clot removal procedure.
Clinical trial locations
Study on the Effectiveness of Alteplase as an Add-On to Mechanical Thrombectomy for Patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke
This clinical trial is investigating whether adding a medication called Alteplase (also known as rt-PA) to mechanical thrombectomy can improve outcomes for patients who have suffered an acute ischemic stroke. An acute ischemic stroke happens when a blood clot blocks an artery leading to the brain, cutting off blood flow and oxygen to brain tissue. Without prompt treatment, brain cells can begin dying within minutes, potentially leading to lasting disabilities.
Inclusion criteria: To participate in this trial, patients must meet several requirements. They need to have a blockage in a large blood vessel in the front part of the brain that has been treated with mechanical thrombectomy, resulting in good blood flow restoration. The treatment must be started within 24 hours of when symptoms began or when the patient was last known to be well. Patients must be at least 18 years old and should not have had significant disability before the stroke. Brain imaging scans are required to confirm eligibility, with specific scores on scales that measure the extent of brain injury. Finally, informed consent must be obtained from the patient or an appropriate representative.
Exclusion criteria: The trial excludes patients who have recently had a stroke caused by a blood clot in the brain, those who did not achieve complete or near-complete blood flow restoration after the clot removal procedure, patients outside the specified age range, and those who belong to vulnerable populations that might require special protection.
Trial focus: The main goal of this study is to determine whether adding Alteplase to mechanical thrombectomy leads to better recovery outcomes. After the clot removal procedure, participants will receive either Alteplase or a placebo. The medication is administered directly into the arteries as a solution for injection or infusion. Approximately 36 hours after treatment, patients undergo a special brain scan called CT Perfusion to assess blood flow in small blood vessels. The primary measure of success is the proportion of patients showing normal blood flow patterns. Additionally, researchers will evaluate patients’ recovery 90 days after treatment using a disability scale to measure how well they can perform daily activities.
Investigational drug: rt-PA (Alteplase) is a clot-dissolving medication being tested in this trial. It works at the molecular level by converting a substance called plasminogen into plasmin, an enzyme that breaks down the fibrin in blood clots. This thrombolytic agent, commonly known as a clot-busting drug, is being studied to see if it can enhance the benefits of mechanical thrombectomy by ensuring better blood flow restoration and potentially reducing the severity of stroke damage.
Summary
Currently, only one clinical trial is actively investigating treatments related to thromboembolectomy for acute ischemic stroke patients. This trial is being conducted in Spain and focuses specifically on whether combining the clot-dissolving medication Alteplase with mechanical clot removal can improve patient outcomes. The study takes a comprehensive approach by monitoring both immediate effects on blood flow and longer-term recovery at 90 days. This research represents an important effort to optimize stroke treatment by determining whether adding medication to the mechanical procedure provides additional benefits for patients.