• Robert L Medcalf and Stephen M Davis.
• Australian Centre for Blood Diseases, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. robert.medcalf@monash.edu
• Int J Stroke. 2012 Jul 1;7(5):419-25.

AbstractThe plasminogen-activating enzyme system has been exploited and harnessed for therapeutic thrombolysis for nearly three decades. Tissue-type plasminogen activator is still the only thrombolytic agent approved for patients with ischemic stroke. While tissue-type plasminogen activator-induced thrombolysis is proven to be of clear benefit in these patients if administered within 4·5 h poststroke onset, it is surprisingly underused in clinics despite international guidelines and improved acute stroke systems, a situation that requires urgent attention. While tissue-type plasminogen activator has also been shown to have unforeseen roles in the brain that have presented new challenges, tissue-type plasminogen activator and related fibrinolytic agents are currently being assessed over extended time frames. This review will focus on the therapeutic experience and controversies of tissue-type plasminogen activator. Furthermore, we will also provide an overview of recent and current trials assessing tissue-type plasminogen activator and related thrombolytic agents as well as novel approaches for the treatment of ischemic stroke.© 2012 The Authors. International Journal of Stroke © 2012 World Stroke Organization.

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