Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat It DoesEligibilityTimeframe for UseSide EffectsGetting TreatmentFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What It Does
Eligibility
Timeframe for Use
Side Effects
Getting Treatment
Frequently Asked Questions
Tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) is a drug given through a vein to help break up a blood clot so that blood flow can return to normal. It is used for the emergency treatment ofischemicstroke, which occurs when a blood clot interrupts blood flow to a region of the brain.
This article explains what tPA is and how it works to break down a clot. It discusses how healthcare providers make a decision about tPA administration, why it’s not always possible to use the drug, and the side effects and complications that may arise from tPA use.
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What Does tPA Do in the Body?
A protein that naturally occurs in the body, tPA can be found on endothelial cells—the cells that line blood vessels.
It activates the conversion of plasminogen to plasmin, an enzyme responsible for the breakdown of clots. This helps restore blood flow that would otherwise remain impeded.
An experienced medical team can administer tPA in its powerful medication form when rapid clot-busting is needed.
Due to a range of factors, including the availability of tPA, the death rate from stroke in the United States fell 77% between 1969 and 2013.However, a 2019 analysis shows stroke rates are declining in people aged 75 and older but increasing in people aged 49 and younger.
Life After Stroke
Who Can Get tPA?
Prior to receiving treatment with tPA, you should expect your healthcare provider to review your medical history and order a braincomputerized tomography(CT) scan. This is because there are several medical conditions that make it too dangerous for you to receive tPA.
If you have any of these conditions, not only would tPA not help you, it could cause significant harm to your health. You are ineligible to receive treatment if any of the following apply:
Protocols have been established to rapidly identify whether you could be having a stroke, so that your testing and treatment can be prompt and efficient, allowing you to receive life-saving treatments in a timely manner.
In fact, some centers are making strides in diagnosing stroke sooner than ever before via mobile stroke units.
What Is the Success Rate of tPA for Strokes?
What Is the Timeline for tPA Administration?
Treatment with tPA has been effective for people with an ischemic stroke as long as it is received intravenously within up to 4.5 hours of the onset of symptoms.
In contrast, endovascular treatment to remove the clot or deliver tPA at the site of the clot is considered for up to 24 hours after a stroke.
However, FDA approval states it should be administered within 3 hours, and faster treatment times are associated with a reduced rate of complications.
What Are the Side Effects of tPA?
While tPA has been shown to be beneficial in the treatment of stroke, there are risks associated with tPA treatment—even for people who have been medically cleared to receive it.
It is a powerful blood thinner, and serious side effects may occur, including the following:
If you experience any of these side effects, you should immediately inform your medical team.
How to Receive Prompt tPA Treatment
The best way to maximize the chances of receiving the most effective treatment for a stroke is to get to the emergency room as soon as possible if you believe a stroke may be occurring.
Symptoms of a stroke include:
Note that a person having a stroke may not notice when they are experiencing symptoms. You may recognize these signs in someone else before they do, or vice versa.
Use the letters in FAST to recognize a stroke:
Don’t wait for the symptoms to disappear. The sooner you get help, the more likely you’ll be in the window for tPA treatment (if applicable). You’ll also likely have fewer the long-term effects.
Signs and Symptoms of Stroke
Summary
The use of tPA medication to break up clots in blood vessels has offered benefits to thousands of people since its use was first approved, but it can’t be used in all cases.
It’s important to recognize the signs and symptoms of stroke to ensure treatment begins as quickly as possible.
Frequently Asked QuestionsAs a thrombolytic, tPA is part of a drug class that also includes agents such as TNKase (tenecteplase) and Streptase (streptokinase). These drugs are used to induce thrombolysis, or the dissolving of blood clots.Learn MoreWhat Is Thromboembolism?Tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) is used to treat ischemic stroke,pulmonary embolism, andheart attack.Research suggests tPA administered after 4.5 hours is not beneficial and may increase the risk of death.Some studies are investigating if tPA administration after 4.5 may provide benefits in certain situations.
As a thrombolytic, tPA is part of a drug class that also includes agents such as TNKase (tenecteplase) and Streptase (streptokinase). These drugs are used to induce thrombolysis, or the dissolving of blood clots.Learn MoreWhat Is Thromboembolism?
As a thrombolytic, tPA is part of a drug class that also includes agents such as TNKase (tenecteplase) and Streptase (streptokinase). These drugs are used to induce thrombolysis, or the dissolving of blood clots.
Learn MoreWhat Is Thromboembolism?
Tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) is used to treat ischemic stroke,pulmonary embolism, andheart attack.
Research suggests tPA administered after 4.5 hours is not beneficial and may increase the risk of death.Some studies are investigating if tPA administration after 4.5 may provide benefits in certain situations.
Stroke Recovery and Rehabilitation
15 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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American Heart Association.U.S. stroke rate declining in adults 75 and older, yet rising in adults 49 and younger.
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