Tenecteplase or Alteplase Better in Patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke Due to Large Vessel Occlusion: A Single Center Observational Study

Background and Objectives: The study aimed to investigate the efficacy of intravenous thrombolysis with Tenecteplase before thrombectomy for acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients compared with previous results using Alteplase. Previous trials for Tenecteplase have indicated an increased incidence of vascular reperfusion. In April 2021, we started to primarily give Tenecteplase to patients eligible to undergo thrombectomy. Materials and Methods: In this retrospective observational single-center non-randomized study, we analyzed directly admitted patients with AIS who had occlusion of the internal carotid, middle cerebral, or basilar artery and who underwent thrombectomy, as well as the recanalization rate for these patients at the first angiographic assessment (mTICI score 2b-3), and complications. Results: We included 184 patients (demographic characteristics did not differ between Tenecteplase and Alteplase groups (mean age 68.4 vs. 73.0 years; female sex 53.3% vs. 51.1%, NIHSS 14 (IQR 4-26) vs. 15 (2-31). Forty-five patients received Tenecteplase and 139 Alteplase before endovascular treatment (EVT). Pre-EVT (endovascular treatment) recanalization was more likely to occur with Tenecteplase rather than Alteplase (22.2% vs. 8.6%, p = 0.02). Successful reperfusion (mTICI 2b-3) after EVT was achieved in 155 patients (42 (93.4%) vs. 113 (81.3), p = 0.07). Hemorrhagic imbibition occurred in 15 (33.3%) Tenecteplase-treated patients compared with 39 (28.1%) Alteplase-treated patients (p = 0.5). Patients treated with Tenecteplase had higher odds of excellent functional outcome than Alteplase-treated patients (Tenecteplase 48.6% vs. Alteplase 26.1%; OR 0.37 (95% CI 0.17-0.81), p = 0.01). Conclusions: Tenecteplase (25 mg/kg) could have superior clinical efficacy over Alteplase for AIS patients with large-vessel occlusion (LVO), administered before EVT. The improvement in reperfusion rate and the better excellent functional outcome could come without an increased safety concern.