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Successful intravenous thrombolysis in ischemic stroke caused by infective endocarditis

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Abstract

Introduction

Infective endocarditis can lead to serious neurological complications including ischemic stroke and intracranial hemorrhage. Treatment with intravenous thrombolysis within 3 h of symptom onset has become the standard of care in acute ischemic stroke, but the safety and efficacy of this intervention in patients with infective endocarditis is unknown.

Summary of Case

We report the case of a patient with ischemic stroke who experienced substantial neurological improvement after being treated with intravenous thrombolysis (NIH stroke scale score of 15 on admission and 4 after treatment) and was subsequently found to have acute infective mitral endocarditis.

Conclusion

Favorable response to thrombolysis may occur in patients with stroke due to infectious endocarditis. The safety of this therapy remains to be established.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, 200 First Street SW, Mayo W8B, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA

    Mithri Junna, Chang-Ching D. Lin & Alejandro A. Rabinstein

  2. Department of Cardiology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, MN, USA

    Raul E. Espinosa

Authors
  1. Mithri Junna
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  2. Chang-Ching D. Lin
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  3. Raul E. Espinosa
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  4. Alejandro A. Rabinstein
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Correspondence to Alejandro A. Rabinstein.

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Junna, M., Lin, CC.D., Espinosa, R.E. et al. Successful intravenous thrombolysis in ischemic stroke caused by infective endocarditis. Neurocrit Care 6, 117–120 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12028-007-0017-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12028-007-0017-9

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