In mild strokes, ultra-early treatment may eliminate risk of disability

1. Patients with mild-to-moderate strokes who received care within 90 minutes of stroke symptoms were less likely to have permanent disability.

2. Early treatment also helped those with minor strokes, but the likelihood of disability is already very low in these patients.

In the case of mild or moderate strokes, getting treatment ultra-fast – within 90 minutes of experiencing symptoms – greatly reduces the risk of suffering disability, according to a new study reported in the American Heart Association’s journal Stroke.

According to guidelines, clot-busting drugs may be given to treat stroke up to 4.5 hours after the onset of symptoms.

The study found that survivors with mild to moderate strokes who were given the clot-busting drugs in the first 90 minutes of the recommended time window had little or no disability three months later compared to those who were treated between 90 and 270 minutes.

The study included more than 6,800 stroke patients at 10 stroke centers in Europe over 14 years. They were treated intravenously with Alteplase, a clot-busting drug that is given IV in the vein. 

Early treatment also helped those with minor strokes, but the likelihood of disability is already very low in these patients.

Those with severe stroke did not benefit as much from the ultra-early treatment because they had severe artery blockage.

FAST is an easy way to remember the sudden signs of stroke.

F: Face drooping, A - Arm weakness, S- Speech difficulty and T-Time (Act fast)