Combined anti-platelet therapy with aspirin and clopidogrel: Risk factor for thrombolysis-related intracerebral hemorrhage in acute ischemic stroke?

Background and purpose To date, pre-treatment with anti-platelet agents does not constitute a contraindication for thrombolysis in acute ischemic stroke. We tested the hypothesis that combined pre-treatment with aspirin and clopidogrel is a risk factor for thrombolysis-related symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (sICH). Methods We retrospectively studied patients with acute ischemic stroke receiving standard IV thrombolytic therapy with rt-PA...