In:
Cerebrovascular Diseases, S. Karger AG, Vol. 20, No. 6 ( 2005), p. 470-474
Abstract:
〈 i 〉 Background: 〈 /i 〉 Knowledge regarding functional improvement over time and long-term outcome after intravenous thrombolysis in acute ischaemic stroke is limited. The aim of this study was to compare a uniform assessment of outcome with an assessment taking the baseline stroke severity into account (responder analysis). 〈 i 〉 Methods: 〈 /i 〉 Fifty-seven patients were assessed with the modified Rankin Scale at 3, 6 and 12 months and a comparison was made between a uniform assessment and a responder analysis of excellent outcome. 〈 i 〉 Results: 〈 /i 〉 Between 3 and 12 months, 74% of the patients had a stable functional outcome and 22% improved. Excellent outcome at 12 months was similar in the uniform analysis (37%) and the responder analysis (35%). The individual patients having an excellent outcome differed, however, using the two methods. Using a responder analysis the number of patients with excellent outcome decreased in mild stroke patients by 40%, but increased in severe stroke patients by 43%. 〈 i 〉 Conclusions: 〈 /i 〉 Short-term outcome is sustained at 12 months, but major improvement does not occur between 3 and 12 months. A responder analysis of long-term excellent outcome provided a balanced measure of outcome reflecting the drug-related potential of improvement in all stroke severity subgroups, whereas a uniform analysis provided a measure of outcome mainly in mild stroke patients. These results suggest that a responder analysis should be considered for the assessment of outcome after treatment for acute stroke.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
1015-9770
,
1421-9786
Language:
English
Publisher:
S. Karger AG
Publication Date:
2005
detail.hit.zdb_id:
1482069-9
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