Memantine improves safety of thrombolysis for stroke.

Despite side effects including N-methyl-d-aspartate-mediated neurotoxicity, recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator (rtPA) remains the only approved acute treatment for ischemic stroke. Memantine, used for treatment of Alzheimer disease, is an antagonist for N-methyl-d-aspartate receptors. We investigated whether memantine could be used as a neuroprotective adjunct therapy for rtPA-induced thrombolysis after stroke.

• Publication date: Oct 2012
• Journal: Stroke
• Publication date: Montagne A, Hébert M, Jullienne A, Lesept F, Le Béhot A, Louessard M, Gauberti M, Orset C, Ali C, Agin V, Maubert E, Vivien D
• ISSN: 1524-4628