Acute ischemic stroke (AIS) due to medium vessel occlusion (MeVO) or severe stenosis poses a significant clinical challenge. Recent large randomized controlled trials, DISTAL and ESCAPE-MeVO, demonstrated no significant benefit of endovascular therapy in patients with MeVO. Although intra-arterial thrombolysis has shown promise in clinical experience, robust evidence supporting its efficacy in MeVO or severe stenosis-related AIS is still absent. To fill this gap, the RESCUE MeVO trial has been designed as a multicenter, prospective, randomized, open-label, blinded end-point (PROBE) study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of intra-arterial thrombolysis in patients with AIS caused by MeVO or severe stenosis.
This study is a multicenter, prospective, randomized, open-label, blinded end-point (PROBE) trial. Eligible participants will be adults (age \>18 years) presenting with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) due to MeVO or severe stenosis (≥70%). Participants who meet all inclusion criteria and none of the exclusion criteria will be randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to one of two treatment arms. The control group will receive best medical management alone, while the intervention group will receive best medical management in combination with intra-arterial thrombolysis. Intra-arterial thrombolysis is performed by infusing rhTNK-tPA (Tenecteplase) proximal to the occlusion or severe stenosis for 5-30 minutes, with the decision to continue beyond the first 5 minutes being guided by intraprocedural DSA. The primary objective of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of intra-arterial thrombolysis in patients with acute ischemic stroke caused by MeVO or severe stenosis. The primary endpoint is excellent outcome at 90 days, defined as a score of 0-1 on the modified Rankin Scale (mRS).
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
282
rhTNK-tPA(Tenecteplase)dose: 0.4 - 1.2mg/min, maximum dose: 16mg. Patients who have not received IVT are recommended to initiate intra-arterial administration at a rate of 0.8 mg/min, whereas those who have received IVT are recommended to receive 0.4 mg/min. The infusion rate may be dynamically adjusted by the operator according to intra-procedural circumstances, with a maximum rate not exceeding 1.2 mg/min.
Patients in this group will receive standard medical therapy in accordance with the guideline-directed management for acute ischemic stroke.
Fu Yang People's Hospital
Fuyang, Anhui, China
RECRUITINGLin Quan People's Hospital
Fuyang, Anhui, China
RECRUITINGThe Second (Affiliated) Hospital of Anhui Medical University
Hefei, Anhui, China
RECRUITINGShucheng People's Hospital
Lu'an, Anhui, China
RECRUITINGLiuZhou Worker's Hospital
Liuchow, Guangxi, China
RECRUITINGLishui Central Hospital
Lishui, Zhejiang, China
RECRUITINGExcellent outcome
Number of participants achieving an excellent outcome, defined as a modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score of 0-1 at 90 ± 7 days follow-up. The mRS is a widely used 7-point scale for assessing disability and functional outcomes after stroke, where higher scores represent worse outcomes.
Time frame: Time Frame: 90 ± 7 days
Ordinal distribution of mRS
Ordinal distribution of the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) at 90 ± 7 days. The mRS is a widely used 7-point scale for assessing disability and functional outcomes after stroke, where higher scores represent worse outcomes.
Time frame: 90 ± 7 days
Functional independence
The proportion of patients achieving functional independence, defined as a modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score of 0-2 at 90 ± 7 days follow-up. The mRS is a widely used 7-point scale for assessing disability and functional outcomes after stroke, where higher scores represent worse outcomes.
Time frame: Frame: 90 ± 7 days
Poor functional outcome
Number of participants achieving a poor functional outcome, defined as a modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score of 4-6 at 90 ± 7 days follow-up. The mRS is a widely used 7-point scale for assessing disability and functional outcomes after stroke, where higher scores represent worse outcomes.
Time frame: 90 ± 7 days
Early neurological deterioration
The proportion of patients with an increase of ≥ 4 points in the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score, within 24 ± 12 hours post-randomization. The NIHSS is a standardized 11-item assessment tool designed to quantify neurological deficits in patients with acute stroke. The total score ranges from 0 to 42, with higher values indicating more severe deficits.
Time frame: 24 ± 12 hours
Any neurological improvement
The proportion of patients with a reduction of ≥ 2 points in the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score from baseline at 24 ± 12 hours post-randomization. The NIHSS is a standardized 11-item assessment tool designed to quantify neurological deficits in patients with acute stroke. The total score ranges from 0 to 42, with higher values indicating more severe deficits.
Time frame: 24 ± 12 hours
Early neurological improvement
The proportion of patients with a reduction of ≥ 4 points in the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score from baseline at 24 ± 12 hours post-randomization. The NIHSS is a standardized 11-item assessment tool designed to quantify neurological deficits in patients with acute stroke. The total score ranges from 0 to 42, with higher values indicating more severe deficits.
Time frame: 24 ± 12 hours
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