Tenecteplase versus Alteplase in Acute Ischemic Stroke: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Background A number of clinical trials have compared tenecteplase (TNK) and alteplase for the management of acute ischemic stroke (AIS) and the results are inconsistent. Purpose Present systematic review and meta-analysis is undertaken to analyse the efficacy and safety of TNK in AIS compared to alteplase. Summary A thorough literature search was performed through the databases Embase, Cochrane Library, PubMed, and clinicaltrials.gov, for a period from inception to September 2022, with the keywords i.e., “tenecteplase” and “alteplase” and “acute ischemic stroke.” Clinical trials published in English that compared the efficacy and safety of TNK to alteplase in AIS were included. The major outcomes of this meta-analysis were proportion of patients free from disability and functional independence at 90 days, early neurological improvement at 24 hours, all-cause mortality at 90 days, patients with intra cranial hemorrhage (ICH), and patients with severe disability at 90 days. A total of nine studies with 3,573 patients were included in the analysis. The proportion of patients with freedom from disability was comparable in both groups (relative risk [RR] = 1.04, 95 per cent CI = 0.92–1.17; p = .53). Similarly, proportion of patients with functional independence was comparable (RR = 1.12, 95 per cent CI = 0.96–1.31; p = .14). TNK group had a higher rate of early neurological recovery (RR = 1.56, 95 per cent CI = 0.96–2.54; p = .07). All-cause mortality at 90 days was comparable in both groups (RR = 0.97; 95 per cent CI = 0.72–1.29; p = .82). The proportion of patients with ICH was higher in TNK group (RR = 1.14, 95 per cent CI = 0.77–1.68; p = .52). The proportion of patients with severe disability was less in TNK group (RR =0.84, 95 per cent CI = 0.53–1.32; p = .44). Key Message TNK was similar to alteplase in terms of efficacy and safety. The patients in TNK group showed early neurological improvement but were simultaneously at higher risk of ICH. The TNK can be an alternative to alteplase if the benefits outweigh the risks.