Is renal dysfunction associated with adverse stroke outcome after thrombolytic therapy?

Renal dysfunction is a prevalent comorbidity in acute stroke patients requiring thrombolytic therapy. Reports studying the relationship between renal dysfunction and risk of postthrombolytic symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (SICH) are contradictory. We aimed to compare the safety and effectiveness of thrombolytic therapy in acute stroke patients with and without renal dysfunction. Based on the prospective stroke registries of 4 hospitals in Taiwan from 2007-2012, we identified acute stroke patients who received thrombolytic therapy. Clinically significant renal dysfunction was defined as an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) <60 ml/min/1.73 m(2). Renal dysfunction was further defined as stage 3 (30 ≤ eGFR < 60 ml/min/ 1.73 m(2)), stage 4 (15 ≤ eGFR < 30 ml/min/1.73 m(2)) and stage 5 (<15 ml/min/1.73 m(2)). The rates of SICH and poor outcome (defined as modified Rankin scale score ≥4) at 3 months after thrombolytic therapy were compared in patients with and without renal dysfunction. SICH was determined according to the definition of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Multivariable logistic regression was used to determine the effect of renal dysfunction on outcome. Patients with different ...Continue Reading