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tPA stands for tissue Plasminogen Activator, is a drug that dissolves blood clots, and is included in the treatment of thrombolytics. This medication is an intravenous or IV drug that is usually given through a catheter inserted into a vein in the arm.
How tPA treats stroke
About 8 in 10 brain attacks / strokes are ischemic. This type of stroke is most often caused by a blood clot blocking blood flow to the brain, causing tissue death. tPA is given to help quickly dissolve the clot and restore blood flow to the brain tissue.
Another common type of brain attack is called a hemorrhagic stroke. This brain attack / stroke occurs due to bleeding from the blood vessels to the brain. tPA is not used to treat this type of brain attack because it can increase the amount of bleeding and cause more damage to the brain. A CT or MRI scan of the head is performed to confirm that there is no bleeding in the brain before tPA is given.
What to know before using tPA
In some cases, tPA can cause excessive bleeding that can lead to death. The more time that elapses between the start of the stroke and administration of tPA, the greater the risk.
Clinicians must be careful when deciding whether a patient should take tPA. When possible, this decision is best made by a skilled medical team led by a stroke specialist. If doctors rule out tPA, they may give you an antithrombotic, or an anticoagulant drug such as heparin, to prevent more clots from forming in the blood.
People who are not treated within three hours of first symptoms appearing, patients with certain medical conditions, and patients with certain types of stroke, are not eligible for tPA treatment.
Tell your doctor if you experience any of the following:
⇒ heart attack
⇒ serious trauma to the head in the last three months
Gastric or urinary tract bleeding in the last 21 days
⇒ major operations within the previous 14 days
⇒ bleeding disorders
⇒ take blood thinners, such as warfarin
⇒ pregnant
⇒ high blood pressure is not controlled
You cannot receive tPA more than three hours after a stroke if:
⇒ is 80 years old and over
⇒ taking blood thinners (anticoagulants)
⇒ has a history of stroke and diabetes.
