Clinical and Radiological Features of Stroke Patients with Poor Outcomes Who Do Not Receive Intravenous Thrombolysis because of Mild Symptoms

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: A substantial proportion of patients who did not receive intravenous thrombolysis with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rtPA), solely because of mild symptoms, can show poor outcome. The aim of our study was to analyze clinical and radiological features of the patients. METHODS: We enrolled 72 patients between 2007 and 2009 who presented to our hospital within 3 h after stroke onset and who did not receive rtPA therapy solely because of mild symptoms (NIHSS score of ≤ 4 at rtPA decision), and examined detailed characteristics of patients with poor outcomes. Poor outcome was defined as a modified Rankin Scale score of ≥ 2 at 3 months after the stroke. RESULTS: Eleven of 72 patients (15%) had poor outcomes. Major vessel occlusion was observed in 7 of the 11 patients. Neurological deterioration after admission was main reason for poor outcome. Infarct expansion in 6 patients (2 large artery diseases and 4 small vessel diseases) and distal embolism by clot migration in 3 patients led to neurological deterioration. CONCLUSIONS: Clinical and radiological features of mild stroke patients with poor outcomes, who did not receive rtPA therapy, were identified. In such patients, intravenous thrombolysis may be justified.