Question

Which of the following is a contraindication for the administration of tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA)?

a) Systolic blood pressure less than or equal to 185 mm Hg
b) Ischemic stroke
c) Intracranial hemorrhage
d) Age 18 years of age or older

Answer 1

Intracranial hemorrhage is a contraindication for the administration of tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA), which should only be used following a thrombotic stroke and not a hemorrhagic stroke.

Step-by-step explanation:

A contraindication for the administration of tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) is intracranial hemorrhage. Tissue plasminogen activator, an enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of plasminogen to plasmin, is released naturally by endothelial cells and is used in clinical medicine to break down clots. Its administration is crucial following a thrombotic stroke, which is an ischemic stroke caused by a blood clot blocking a cerebral artery. However, if the stroke is a result of a hemorrhage, introducing t-PA could worsen the bleeding and is therefore contraindicated. The administration of a thrombolytic agent like t-PA is the first intervention for someone who has suffered a thrombotic stroke and must be administered within 3 to 4.5 hours of the onset of symptoms to improve prognosis.