ABSTRACT
Antithrombotic agents play a central role in the treatment of ischemic cerebrovascular disease. Of these, select plasminogen activators (PAs) have been shown to mediate reperfusion of thrombus-occluded brain-supplying arteries when applied acutely (within the first 3 to 6 hours after ischemic stroke onset). However, work over the last decade has not substantially improved the outcomes from the original reports. This chapter addresses the use of fibrinolytic agents in the treatment of ischemic stroke and several related conditions and considers factors underlying their limited development and potential future use.
