Acute ischemic stroke (AIS) is a time sensitive medical emergency and a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Intravenous (IV) recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (IV alteplase) is currently the only proven effective medication for the treatment of AIS with promising adjuvant medications currently under investigation.(Gottula et al, 2021).~Intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) is used to treat acute stroke because of its thrombolytic activity and its ability to restore circulation to the brain. (Wang, et. al, 1998). However tPA administration, especially delayed administration is associated with increased intracranial hemorrhage, hemorrhagic transformation and mortality. (Jong, 2019) Acute cerebrovascular disease, particularly ischemic stroke, has emerged as a serious complication of infection by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus that caused by the Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19). Such specificities include a propensity towards large vessel occlusion, multi-territory stroke, and involvement of otherwise uncommonly affected vessels. The pathogenesis and optimal management of ischemic stroke associated with COVID-19 still remain uncertain, but emerging evidence suggest that cytokine storm-triggered coagulopathy and endotheliopathy represent possible targetable mechanisms. (Vogrig, et. al, 2021).~Anew study was done in United States in 2020, included 13 patients presented with acute ischemic stroke and systemic symptoms consistent with covid-19 were treated with IV tPA. 61.5% of patients improved at follow up, Neither of them complicated with systemic or symptomatic intracranial hemorrhages.(Carneiro, et. al, 2020). IV tPA may be safe and efficacious in COVID -19 but larger studies are needed to validate these results (Carneiro, et. al, 2020).~The purpose of this study is to compare between the safety and efficacy of tPA management of ischemic stroke in Covid-19 and non covid-19 patients.
The investigator will recruit consecutively all patients coming with acute ischemic stroke either with or without COVID -19 infection and suitable for IV injection with Tissue plasminogen activators according to guideline and inclusion criteria of tPA.~Aswan University Hospital.