News Release

Clot buster use differs between black and white stroke patients

American Stroke Association News Brief - Poster WP113, Session P3

Peer-Reviewed Publication

American Heart Association

DALLAS, Jan. 30, 2019 -- White stroke patients are much more likely than black patients to be treated in community hospital emergency departments with the clot-busting drug intravenous tissue-plasminogen activator, or tPA, according to preliminary research to be presented in Honolulu at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference 2019, a world premier meeting for researchers and clinicians dedicated to the science and treatment of cerebrovascular disease.

If doctors administer tPA within 4.5 hours of the first signs of stroke, the drug can dissolve the blood clot, restore blood flow to the impacted area of the brain and reduce disability.

Researchers studied a proven stroke care method called "drip and ship," meaning doctors in emergency departments of community hospitals administer intravenous tPA to stroke patients before transferring those patients to a comprehensive stroke center. This helps ensure those patients get tPA in time for the drug to be most effective.

Black patients had a 54 percent lower likelihood of receiving intravenous tPA in the emergency department. Of 1,339 stroke patients who arrived at a comprehensive stroke center from a community hospital emergency department, 33 percent of black patients versus 51 percent of white patients received the clot buster while in the emergency department.

The researchers couldn't explain the substantial racial difference in tPA use in the emergency department by factors such as where patients lived or how close they were to a comprehensive stroke center.

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This study received no funding.

Rena Sukhdeo, M.D., Department of Neurology, University of Tennessee in Memphis.

Note: Scientific presentation is 6:30 p.m. HT/11:30 p.m. ET, Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2019.

Additional Resources:

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* For more news from AHA International Stroke Conference 2019, follow us on Twitter @HeartNews #ISC19.

Statements and conclusions of study authors that are presented at American Heart Association scientific meetings are solely those of the study authors and do not necessarily reflect association policy or position. The association makes no representation or warranty as to their accuracy or reliability. The association receives funding primarily from individuals; foundations and corporations (including pharmaceutical, device manufacturers and other companies) also make donations and fund specific association programs and events. The association has strict policies to prevent these relationships from influencing the science content. Revenues from pharmaceutical and device corporations are available at https://www.heart.org/en/about-us/aha-financial-information.

About the American Stroke Association

The American Stroke Association is devoted to saving people from stroke -- the No. 2 cause of death in the world and a leading cause of serious disability. We team with millions of volunteers to fund innovative research, fight for stronger public health policies and provide lifesaving tools and information to prevent and treat stroke. The Dallas-based association officially launched in 1998 as a division of the American Heart Association. To learn more or to get involved, call 1-888-4STROKE or visit StrokeAssociation.org. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.


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