Introduction: Stroke is defined as a sudden onset of a neurological deficit caused by an acute focal injury to the central nervous system due to a vascular cause. Intravenous (IV) alteplase is the only licensed thrombolytic agent for Acute ischemic Stroke (AIS). However, the functional outcome among patients with acute ischemic stroke after receiving intravenous thrombolytic therapy is influenced by huge variety of factors .Aim of this study: to improve the functional outcome of patients presenting with acute ischemic stroke. Patients & methods: This is a quasi-experimental study; the study included 105 patients presented to Emergency Department in Suez Canal University Hospital diagnosed with acute ischemic stroke during the first 4.5 hours of symptoms onset. Results: there were 69 (66%) males and 36 (34%) females in this study, and the age range was 31-70. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to Modified Rankin Scale (mRS) outcome as follow: good outcome (mRS 0-2) group was seen in 58% of patients and poor outcome group( mRS 3–6) in 42% of patients. Patients with unfavorable functional outcomes had significantly higher NIHSS score, mRS score, initial blood glucose, fasting blood glucose and PT, there were also significant associations with a more length of hyper dense MCA sign and a lower rate of clot disappearance following IVT in those with unfavorable functional outcomes. Conclusion: Intravenous thrombolytic therapy improves the functional outcome among acute ischemic stroke patients. AF, hypertension, DM, NIHSS 24 h after receiving IV rtPA”.

Neurology, tissue plasminogen activator, modified Rankin scale score, NIHSS score.