Mori et al used a grading scheme to describe the angiographic recanalization of an occluded cerebral artery following thrombolytic therapy. This can be used to describe the effectiveness of therapy to remove clot. The authors are from Hyogo Brain and Heart Center at Himeji, Japan.
Therapeutic agent: urokinase
Recanalization of Occlusion
Perfusion Distal
Grade
none (unchanged)
none
0
some change (minimal)
none
1
partial
perfusion of < 50% of the ischemic region
2
partial
perfusion of >= 50% of the ischemic region
3
complete or nearly complete
complete
4
where:
• Group 0 was referred to as the no-recanalization group.
• Group 4 was referred to as the complete recanalization group.
• In the description of partial recanalization no provision was made for perfusion = 50% so I assigned this to Grade 3.
The differential diagnosis for Grade 0 lesions includes artery-to-artery embolization of ulcerated plaque material not likely to be affected by thrombolytic agents.
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