Table 1:
Demographic and Baseline Characteristics of the Patients
| Variable | Alteplase Group (n=429) | Control Group (n=414) |
|---|---|---|
| Age – years | ||
| Mean (SD) | 68.5 (12.2) | 68.5 (12.7) |
| Male sex – number (%) | 268 (63%) | 253 (61%) |
| Reason for unknown time of symptom onset – number (%) | ||
| Overnight-sleep | 385 (90%) | 366 (88%) |
| Other | 44 (10%) | 48 (12%) |
| Time between last seen well and symptom recognition – hours | ||
| Median, interquartile range | 7.0 (4.7–9.0) | 7.0 (5.0–9.0) |
| Medical history / risk factors – no. (%) | ||
| Arterial hypertension | 259/428 (61%) | 254/412 (60%) |
| Diabetes mellitus | 83/424 (20%) | 69/413 (17%) |
| Hypercholesterolemia * | 116/311 (63%) | 108/301 (64%) |
| Atrial fibrillation | 86/427 (20%) | 72/408 (18%) |
| History of ischemic stroke or TIA * | 45/323 (14%) | 45/310 (15%) |
| Pretreatment with antiplatelets – no. (%) | 125/397 (32%) | 132/383 (35%) |
| NIHSS score | ||
| Median, interquartile range | 7 (4–12) | 7 (4–12) |
| Imaging modality: CT | 65 (15%) | 64 (16%) |
| Imaging modality: MRI | 364 (85%) | 350 (85%) |
| Vessel occlusion on baseline CT- or MR-angiography † | ||
| Any vessel occlusion – no. (%) | 174/391 (45%) | 168/380 (44%) |
| Large vessel occlusion – no. (%) | 99/391 (25%) | 90/380 (24%) |
| Penumbral mismatch present | 112/208 (45%) | 109/197 (55%) |
| DWI-FLAIR mismatch present | 327/345 (95%) | 315/334 (94%) |
| Alteplase dose 0.9 mg/kg bodyweight | 359 (84%) | 353 (85%) |
| Alteplase dose 0.6 mg/kg bodyweight | 70 (16%) | 61 (15%) |
| Time from symptom recognition to treatment initiation – hours | ||
| Median, interquartile range | 3.3 (2.6–4.1) | 3.4 (2.7–4.1) |
| Time between last seen well and treatment initiation – hours | ||
| Median, interquartile range | 10.6 (8.6–12.4) | 10.5 (8.4–12.3) |
SD denotes standard deviation; TIA = transient ischemic attack; NIHSS = National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale;
*
not recorded in ECASS-4 and EXTEND;
†
not available for ECASS-4.