IV thrombolysis and renal disease

Neurology 2013; 81: 1780-8.

Studied 4780 ivt treated patients, of whom 25.5 % had a low GFR below 60 mL/min.  Low GFR was significantly associated with poor 3 month outcome  death and sICH; lower GFR "might be a better risk indicator than age" and a decrease by 10 mL/min/1.73 m@ has a similar impact on death or SIC as one point on the NIHSS

IV tpa is safe in Chagas disease related strokes

Neurology 2013;81:1773-5.  Out of a series of 240 patients in Brazil, 24 (13.8%) had positive serologic testing for Chagas disease.  They more likely had heart failure and higher NIHSS but did NOT have more symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage or in hospital death than patients without.  Conclusion:  Chagas disease diagnosis does not preclude use of tpa.
editor note: does not apply to those with known Chagas disease vasculitis, and a small number was studied, and positive serology is different than having severe disease