Reconsidering recent myocardial infarction as a contraindication for IV stroke thrombolysis.

OBJECTIVES: We reviewed the literature on IV stroke thrombolysis for patients with recent myocardial infarction (MI). METHODS: We searched PubMed and Ovid databases, relevant trials, and guidelines. RESULTS: Only 5 thrombolyzed stroke patients with recent MI were reported to have cardiac tamponade. Pathological studies show MI healing is completed by 7 weeks. CONCLUSION: The time window from MI as a contraindication for IV stroke thrombolysis may be narrowed from 3 months in current guidelines to 7 weeks.