Digestive and urologic hemorrhage after intravenous thrombolysis for acute ischemic stroke: Data from a Chinese stroke center

OBJECTIVE: Intravenous thrombolysis with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) is considered the most effective treatment method for AIS; however, it is associated with a risk of hemorrhage. We analyzed the risk factors for digestive and urologic hemorrhage during rt-PA therapy. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed patients with AIS who underwent intravenous thrombolysis with rt-PA during a 5-year period in a Chinese stroke center. Data on the demographics, medical history, laboratory test results, and clinical outcomes were collected. RESULTS: 338 patients with AIS were eligible and included. Logistic regression multivariate analysis showed that gastric catheter was significantly correlated with digestive hemorrhage, while age and urinary catheter were significantly correlated with urologic hemorrhage. Most hemorrhagic events were associated with catheterization after 1 to 24 hours of rt-PA therapy. CONCLUSIONS: In summary, gastric and urinary catheters were correlated with digestive and urologic hemorrhage in patients with AIS undergoing rt-PA therapy. Well-designed controlled studies with large samples are required to confirm our findings.