Clot-Dissolving Medications May Enhance Stroke Recovery by Over 50%: Research

Synopsis

A study from China reveals that the clot-dissolving drug alteplase can enhance stroke recovery by over 50%. This research, presented at the International Stroke Conference 2025, indicates that alteplase is effective even up to 24 hours after stroke onset.

Key Takeaways

Alteplase improves recovery rates in stroke patients.
Effective up to 24 hours post-stroke.
40% of patients showed minimal disability after 90 days.
Increased risk of brain bleeding noted.
Further research needed for different demographics.

New Delhi, Feb 10 (NationPress) A group of researchers from China has discovered that clot-dissolving medication – alteplase – can significantly enhance the recovery of stroke patients by more than 50 percent.

The research team from Zhejiang University presented their findings at the American Stroke Association's recent International Stroke Conference 2025 in Los Angeles, USA, indicating that the drug proves effective when administered up to 24 hours following the onset of an ischemic stroke.

The critical period for stroke patients, defined as the first 60 minutes after symptom onset, is when treatment is most beneficial. Previously, the recognized timeframe for effective treatment was extended to 4.5 hours for certain patients.

The results of the study offer hope to stroke patients globally, who may face delays in receiving clot-dissolving medications, according to Min Lou, a Professor at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University's School of Medicine.

This investigation involved 372 stroke patients whose symptoms began between 4.5 hours and 24 hours prior. Participants were randomly assigned to two groups: one receiving the clot-busting medication alteplase, and the other receiving standard care with antiplatelet therapy.

Approximately 40 percent of those treated with alteplase reported minimal to no disability after 90 days. In contrast, only 26 percent of the standard care group experienced similar outcomes. This indicates a 54 percent increased likelihood of functional recovery with alteplase.

However, the risk of brain bleeding was higher in the alteplase group compared to the non-alteplase group (3.8 percent vs. 0.5 percent), but researchers consider this risk to be manageable.

Lou emphasized the need for further research to ensure that these findings can be generalized to other populations, especially in regions with varying stroke risks and healthcare resources, to better understand the efficacy and safety of alteplase and similar medications.