RT Journal
A1 Broderick JP, Meyers PM
T1 ACute stroke therapy at the crossroads
JF JAMA
JO JAMA
YR 2011
FD November 9
VO 306
IS 18
SP 2026
OP 2028
DO 10.1001/jama.2011.1622
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jama.2011.1622
AB 
Intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (IV t-PA) is the only treatment approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that was proven clinically effective in multiple randomized clinical trials for acute ischemic stroke.1 The effectiveness of t-PA is time-dependent; treatment beyond 4.5 hours from stroke onset does not result in improved clinical outcome.1 By reducing long-term disability, IV t-PA is also highly cost-effective.2 No other treatment for acute ischemic stroke has shown greater clinical efficacy than IV t-PA.