Ischemic Stroke, Obesity and Thrombolysis

This study focuses on the relationship between obesity and stroke, which are both characterized by increasing incidence and prevalence with epidemic proportions worldwide and tremendous socio-economic consequences. Furthermore, obesity is an established risk factor for stroke and affects especially younger people, which increases the stroke incidence in younger patients. Unfortunately, the relationship between overweight and acute ischemic stroke including treatment by thrombolysis has not yet been evaluated thoroughly.

All patients receiving thrombolytic treatment for acute ischemic stroke will be included in this study. The decision for treatment and selection of thrombolysis type is allocated to treating stroke physicians who will follow national and international stroke guidelines and considering the clinical and radiological findings. Patients are given either a) intravenous rt-PA (0.9 mg/kg; maximum 90 mg, 10% as intravenous bolus and the remaining 90% as continuous infusion over 1 hour), b) endovascular treatment such as intra-arterial urokinase or rt-PA and/or mechanical recanalization techniques, or c) two thirds of the standard dose intravenous rt-PA followed by endovascular treatment such as intra-arterial urokinase or rt-PA and/or mechanical recanalization techniques (bridging concept). Patient involvement in this study will not influence any treatment decision. Patients will undergo a complete diagnostic stroke work-up, including assessment of vascular risk factors and medication, clinical neurological examination using the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score on admission and 24h after thrombolysis, laboratory examination, brain and neurovascular imaging, echocardiography and 24-hours ECG to determine stroke etiology using the Trial of Org 10172 in Acute Stroke Treatment (TOAST) criteria. All patients will be weighed as early as possible, but stringently within 24h after thrombolysis. If they are able to stand at 24h, a standard calibrated licensed scale will be used (Seca, Hamburg, Germany; Model 799). Otherwise, patients will be weighed on a special bed scale calibrated and validated for the use for patient weighing (Seca; Hamburg, Germany; Model 657). In addition, body height, waist and hip circumference of each patient will be measured. All patients will be examined by CT and CTA or MRI and MRA at 24h and in any case of clinical deterioration to exclude intracranial hemorrhage and to assess recanalization in case of vessel occlusion (using the thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) grading system). The treating physician will initiate secondary prevention of stroke as soon as possible and according to current guidelines. Body weight and clinical assessments (measurement of clinical scores NIHSS, modified Rankin Scale, and Barthel Index; assessment of adverse events such as in-hospital complication, death, cardiovascular event) will be performed by stroke physicians at following visits: I) day 3-5 and/or hospital discharge, II) 3-month and III) 12-month. Patients in whom a clinical follow-up examination is not possible will be evaluated by a structured phone interview.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* Acute ischemic stroke
* Acute treatment with thrombolysis
* Age \>18 years
* Written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

* Age \<18 years
* Intracranial hemorrhage
* Known hemorrhagic diathesis
* Preexisting neurological deficits (mRS \>2 points)
* Uncontrolled arterial hypertension (blood pressure \>185/110 mmHg repeatedly despite antihypertensive drugs)
* Severe illness with poor prognosis (e.g. neoplasia)