doi: 10.1161/01.STR.0000014247.70674.7F
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(Stroke. 2002;33:1424.)
© 2002 American Heart Association, Inc.
Case Reports |
Acute Basilar Artery Occlusion Treated With Combined Intravenous Abciximab and Intra-arterial Tissue Plasminogen Activator
Report of 3 Cases
From the Departments of Neuroradiology (B.E., C.K., H.Z.) and Neurology (G.T., J.R.), University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
Correspondence to Dr Bernd Eckert, Department of Neuroradiology, University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistrasse 52, D-20246 Hamburg, Germany. E-mail b.eckert{at}uke.uni-hamburg.de
Abstract
Background— Acute vertebrobasilar occlusion remains a disease with a high mortality even after treatment by local intra-arterial fibrinolysis. Adjunctive treatment with platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor inhibitors such as abciximab may facilitate recanalization and improve the neurological outcome. Results after treatment of 3 patients by combined intravenous abciximab and local intra-arterial tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) are reported.
Case Descriptions— Treatment was performed within 6 hours of stroke onset. Angiography revealed embolic occlusion of the basilar artery in 2 patients and atherothrombotic occlusion at the vertebrobasilar junction in 1 patient. Therapy consisted of intravenous abciximab bolus administration (0.25 mg/kg) followed by 12-hour infusion therapy (0.125 µg/kg per minute) and local intra-arterial thrombolysis with tPA (10 mg/h). Heparin was only applied for catheter flushing (500 IU/h). The patient with the atherothrombotic occlusion was treated with additional percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and stenting. Complete recanalization of the basilar artery occurred in 2 patients, whose conditions improved clinically to functional independence. In the third patient only partial recanalization was seen, with only slight clinical improvement. This patient died of cardiac failure 2 months later. Besides a subtle subarachnoid hemorrhage (n=1), no intracranial or extracranial bleeding complication was observed.
Conclusions— The combination of glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor inhibitor with local intra-arterial tPA might be a promising therapy for patients with acute vertebrobasilar occlusion. Further studies are necessary to define the clinical benefit and the bleeding rate of this new pharmacological approach.
Key Words: antibodies, monoclonal • basilar artery • fibrinolysis • stroke, ischemic • thrombolytic therapy • vertebral artery
Stroke due to angiographically documented basilar artery (BA) occlusion is a dramatic clinical event with a mortality rate approaching 90% if patients are treated by standard medical therapy including anticoagulation agents.1–3 Despite rescue endovascular therapy by means of local intra-arterial fibrinolysis, the mortality remains high.4,5
Recanalization failure after local fibrinolysis and rapid rethrombosis are considered the main reasons for therapy failure. Platelet-mediated thrombotic mechanisms may also play an important role in delayed recanalization as well as rethrombosis after successful vessel patency. Platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor inhibitors such as abciximab, which act on the final mediator of platelet aggregation, have been shown to be effective in preventing thrombosis during percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) in coronary6–8 and carotid arteries.9 Abciximab appeared to be safe in a dose-finding study in acute stroke patients (within 24 hours) and showed some positive effect on the functional outcome.10
A combined therapy with intravenous abciximab and half-dose tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) versus full-dose tPA alone has been tested in 2 randomized trials in coronary artery occlusive disease. The angiography-based Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) 14 Trial11 revealed an improved rate and speed of recanalization under combined therapy, without increasing the risk of major bleeding. The clinically based Global Utilization of Streptokinase and Tissue Plasminogen Activator for Occluded Coronary Arteries (GUSTO) V Trial12 showed a consistent reduction in key secondary complications in combined therapy, including reinfarction, but no difference in mortality. Because of the risk of severe intracranial hemorrhage, this combined therapy has not been implemented to date in cerebral infarction.
We describe 3 patients with acute BA occlusion treated by a combination of abciximab and superselective intra-arterially applied tPA. One patient was additionally treated by PTA and stenting.
Case Reports
Technical Procedures
CT scan and CT angiography (CTA) were performed before treatment to exclude intracranial hemorrhage or a brain stem infarct and to confirm the clinical diagnosis of a vertebrobasilar occlusion. Clinical examination was performed by a neurologist before intubation and included scoring according to the modified Rankin Scale (mRS)13 and National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS).14 Informed consent was obtained in patient 3. Patients 1 and 2 were not able to give informed consent and were treated in accordance with a compassionate treatment protocol as approved by the local ethics committee.
Four-vessel angiography was performed in all patients. After angiographic documentation of the BA occlusion, the intravenous abciximab therapy was initiated (bolus of 0.25 mg/kg body wt) followed by an infusion of 0.125 µg/kg body wt per minute. The infusion therapy was maintained for 12 hours.
Endovascular therapy was initiated by navigating a 6F introducer catheter into the origin of the dominating vertebral artery (VA). The BA occlusion site was passed by use of a guidewire (0.016-inch Radiofocus Guide Wire M, Terumo Corporation). An end-hole microcatheter (Turbo Tracker 2.6F, Boston Scientific Target Therapeutics) was then coaxially placed at the occlusion site, with the tip within the proximal third of the thrombus. The tPA was administered through the microcatheter for 2 hours in all 3 patients. The dosage was 10 mg/h. To provide an optimal drug distribution at the occlusion site and to maintain the position of the microcatheter, the guidewire was kept in position at the end of the distal portions of the posterior cerebral artery (PCA). An angiographic control series was performed at 15-minute intervals. Heparin was only used for catheter flushing (500 IU/h). After local tPA treatment, the patients were referred to the neurological intensive care unit with remnant sheath at the femoral puncture site. Blood samples were taken to evaluate the coagulation parameters, including the number of thrombocytes at 2 and 24 hours after abciximab bolus administration (according to GUSTO V protocol12). The sheath was removed as soon as the first coagulation control was normal. A control CT scan was performed at 1 and 4 days after therapy to rule out hemorrhage and to monitor the extent of infarction. Postprocedural anticoagulation therapy consisting of low-dose heparin and aspirin was started 24 hours after the abciximab therapy. Patient 3 additionally received clopidogrel for 4 weeks.
Follow-up neurological examination was performed by an independent neurologist in all 3 patients.
Case 1
Patient 1 (female, aged 62 years) presented with rapid onset of brain stem symptoms (dysarthria, tetraparesis, and double vision) and coma leading to oropharyngeal intubation. NIHSS score was 31 and mRS score was 5 before intubation. CTA 3 hours after symptom onset revealed an embolic distal BA occlusion including both PCA and right superior cerebellar artery (SCA) (Figure 1A). Intravenous abciximab therapy was initiated. Angiography 20 minutes later disclosed a partial recanalization with filling of both the PCA and the right SCA (Figure 1B), and local fibrinolysis was begun. Nineteen minutes after local tPA infusion, the BA was completely recanalized; however, the right PCA remained occluded (Figure 1C) even after 2 hours of local tPA therapy. Control CT scan revealed a complete infarction of the right PCA and a thalamic infarction but no brain stem infarction. Intracranial bleeding was not detected. The patient was extubated 2 days later, and the clinical condition improved continuously. After 3 months the patient improved to functional independence (NIHSS score from 31 to 4; mRS score from 5 to 2).
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Case 2
Patient 2 (male, aged 80 years) presented with sudden loss of consciousness, ophthalmoplegia with fixed pupils, and spontaneous waves of extensor rigidity (NIHSS score 32; mRs score 5) with subsequent oropharyngeal intubation. On CT scan 5.5 hours after stroke onset, no brain stem lesions were visible. CTA and catheter angiography revealed a mid basilar vessel occlusion, suggesting embolic BA occlusion. Intravenous abciximab and local fibrinolysis were started 6 hours after stroke onset. After 2 hours of local recombinant tPA therapy, incomplete recanalization was achieved. CT follow-up revealed mesencephalic and thalamic infarction and an infarction of the right PCA without hemorrhage. Transcranial Doppler sonography 24 hours after stroke onset disclosed recanalization of the BA. The clinical condition remained stable, with slight improvement of the hemiparesis and increased responsiveness. After 2 months the NIHSS score was 27 and the mRS score was still 5. Two weeks later the patient died of heart failure.
Case 3
Patient 3 (male, aged 56 years) presented with acute onset of ataxia, facial paresis, horizontal gaze palsy, progressive dysarthria, and dysphagia (NIHSS score 9; mRS score 3).
CT scan excluded hemorrhage. CTA revealed occlusion of the vertebrobasilar junction with retrograde perfusion of the distal BA. Neurological deficits progressed over the next 30 minutes, and oropharyngeal intubation was required. Angiography confirmed proximal occlusion of the right VA and intracranial occlusion of the left VA (Figure 2A), suggesting atherothrombotic occlusion at the site of a preexisting stenosis. Abciximab infusion and local fibrinolysis were started 5 hours after symptom onset. After 2 hours of local tPA therapy, no recanalization occurred. The patient was referred to the intensive care unit with a remnant sheath. A control angiogram after termination of abciximab infusion therapy (17 hours after symptom onset) revealed recanalization along with a residual high-grade stenosis (Figure 2B). It was decided to perform an angioplasty. To prevent periprocedural thromboembolic complications, 4000 IU heparin was intravenously applied to elevate the activated clotting time from 162 to 310 seconds. First the stenosis was passed by a guidewire (14-inch Choice PT, Boston Scientific), then a 2.5-mm balloon catheter (10 mm in length) was placed inside the stenosis (Omni Pass, Cordis Europa NV) and inflated with a pressure of 6 atm. The control angiogram revealed improved vessel patency but also a flap inside the lumen, suggesting vessel wall dissection (Figure 2C). With the position of the guidewire maintained, the balloon catheter was removed, and an INX stent (3.5 mm in diameter and 12 mm in length) was inserted (Medtronic Ave, Inc) and released by inflation of the underlying balloon with 6 atm. The final angiogram demonstrated complete vessel restoration (Figure 2D). CT follow-up revealed a right cerebellar infarction and a subtle hemorrhage in the right frontal subarachnoid space. After 3 months, the patient had clinically improved (NIHSS score 3; mRS score 1) and was functionally independent.
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Discussion
Even with local intra-arterial fibrinolysis, recanalization rates in acute vertebrobasilar occlusion do not exceed 70%, and mortality rates remain 60%.4,5 Increasing the dosage of plasminogen activators has not improved clinical and angiographic results.5 Only the adjunctive therapy with human-derived lys-plasminogen has improved the recanalization rate and neurological outcome.5,15 Lys-plasminogen, however, is not generally available at present. The production of human-derived lys-plasminogen has been discontinued, and to our knowledge recombinant lys-plasminogen is not available. To accelerate recanalization, new treatment strategies are necessary.
Lysing fibrin from the fibrin thrombus clot through plasminogen activators exposes free thrombin and paradoxically stimulates platelet aggregation and can facilitate rethrombosis. At the site of the vascular injury, for example, an atherosclerotic stenosis, platelet aggregation can cause the formation of a platelet thrombus ("white clot"). A platelet thrombus may also embolize toward the microcirculation and release vasoactive amines. Platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor inhibitors such as abciximab induce a rapid and effective inhibition of platelet aggregation. Through thrombolysis of the platelet thrombus and by preventing the process of rethrombosis, adjunctive abciximab application might improve the rate and extent of intra-arterial fibrinolysis in acute stroke. An additional effect may be the improvement of microvascularization, as has been found in patients with coronary artery occlusive disease16 and in animal studies after abciximab application.17,18 In the cerebral circulation, successful adjunctive abciximab therapy after failed intra-arterial fibrinolysis has been described as rescue treatment in rare cases of basilar artery rethrombosis19 and acute middle cerebral artery stroke.20
Pathoanatomic1,21,22 and clinical studies5,23–25 suggest that 2 different occlusion mechanisms exist in acute vertebrobasilar occlusion: atherothrombotic occlusions at the site of an underlying stenosis in the vertebrobasilar junction up to the mid basilar portion of the BA and occlusions in the distal portion of the BA, suggesting embolic occlusion. In most studies on intra-arterial fibrinolysis, recanalization rates and clinical results were found to be better in embolic than in atherothrombotic occlusion.4,5,23 In both types of occlusion, abciximab might facilitate recanalization by thrombolysis of the platelet part of the clot; this is probably more important in the case of atherothrombotic BA occlusion at the site of an atherosclerotic plaque resembling the cardiovascular obstruction type. In the case of residual stenosis after intra-arterial thrombolysis in atherothrombotic BA occlusion, additional PTA/stenting has been reported to improve the clinical outcome.5,26 Abciximab has been shown to be effective in preventing thrombosis and embolic complications during PTA in coronary6–8 and carotid arteries.9 Abciximab ensures sufficient periprocedural inhibition of platelet aggregation if additional endovascular treatment is required. In case of a good collateral situation such as in patient 3 (Figure 2), it might be reasonable to await the effect of the 12-hour abciximab infusion therapy and perform the PTA/stenting later.27
In patient 1, who had an embolic occlusion, a recanalizing effect was already visible after abciximab application before recombinant tPA administration (Figure 1). In embolic occlusion, mechanical approaches to retrieve the clot, such as basket devices or snare systems,28 might be promising options in the immediate future.
The major concern about this combined approach is the risk of intracranial bleeding complications.29 In the GUSTO V Trial,12 extracranial bleeding complications were significantly higher on combined therapy (severe bleeding rate 1.1% versus 0.5%; moderate bleeding rate 3.5% versus 1.8%).The intracranial bleeding rate, however, was low (0.4% in combined therapy versus 0.5%) except in patients older than 75 years (2.1% in combined therapy versus 1.1%). Except for a subtle subarachnoid hemorrhage in patient 3, no intracranial or extracranial bleeding complication was seen in our patients. Cardiological studies have expounded on the significance of heparin in severe bleeding complications. To reduce the bleeding risk we applied a reduced dosage of recombinant tPA (10 mg/h) and applied heparin only for catheter flushing.
Although the number of reported patients is very limited and this novel combined therapy is still a premature experimental treatment, we believe that abciximab in combination with fibrinolysis and, if necessary, with additional PTA/stenting might be a promising therapeutic approach to improve recanalization and clinical outcome in acute basilar occlusion. Many concerns regarding its potential hemorrhagic complications remain, however. Until additional safety data have been collected through further studies, this combined treatment should be restricted to patients with acute basilar occlusion.
Acknowledgments
We thank Dr Jarold Knispel, Hamburg, for advice on language.
Received November 20, 2001; revision received January 24, 2002; accepted January 25, 2002.
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