Abstract
Background and Purpose
Stroke is one of the most common neurological manifestations of infective endocarditis. The use of intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) in the management of acute ischemic stroke is the accepted standard of practice.
Current guidelines for intravenous (IV) t-PA therapy in acute ischemic stroke do not exclude patients with infective endocarditis.
Summary of the Case
We present three patients who received IV t-PA for acute ischemic stroke in the setting of infective endocarditis and developed multifocal intracranial hemorrhage as a complication.
Conclusion
Infective endocarditis related strokes are associated with a higher risk of hemorrhagic complications and our experience suggests that IV t-PA use may potentiate that risk.
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Bhuva, P., Kuo, SH., Claude Hemphill, J. et al. Intracranial Hemorrhage Following Thrombolytic Use for Stroke Caused by Infective Endocarditis. Neurocrit Care 12, 79–82 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12028-009-9253-5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12028-009-9253-5