• Christine Kremer, Fabienne Perren, Johan Kappelin, Eufrozina Selariu, and Kasim Abul-Kasim.
• Department of Neurology, Skåne University Hospital, Lund University, Sweden. christine.kremer@skane.se
• Clin Neurol Neurosurg. 2013 Mar 1; 115 (3): 289-92.

ObjectiveStroke patients with aphasia have a high long-term morbidity. Intravenous rt-PA (iv) thrombolysis is given more deliberately to these patients. Early outcome data is lacking. Aim of this study was to determine early benefit from rt-PA in patients with aphasia.MethodsData of stroke patients treated by iv thrombolysis was scrutinized for the presence of aphasia defined as ≥1 point for aphasia on the National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS). Improvement was defined as a gain of ≥1 point within 24h. Cranial computed tomography (CT) scans were evaluated regarding early ischemic changes (EICs), infarct volume and localization.ResultsFifty patients with aphasia were included. 16 (32%) of patients improved (4 (36%) minor, 7 (41%) moderate, 5 (23%) major stroke patients), while 44 (62%) remained unchanged. Of 28 patients with EICs, 10 (36%) improved compared to 7 out of 22 (32%) patients without (p=0.773). Aphasia outcome was significantly associated with infarct volume at admission and at 24h (Kruskal-Wallis, p=0.033, p≤0.001, respectively).ConclusionEICs are not predictive of aphasia outcome and patients with improvement showed smaller infarct volumes. One third improved within 24h, while two thirds remained unchanged. This might justify a closer follow-up of aphasia in stroke patients at the acute stage.Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

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