Early tirofiban administration after intravenous thrombolysis in acute ischemic stroke (ADVENT): Study protocol of a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial.

Background: Nearly half of patients with acute ischemic stroke who undergo intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) fail to achieve excellent functional outcomes. Early administration of tirofiban after IVT may improve patient outcomes.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of early tirofiban administration after intravenous tenecteplase in patients with acute ischemic stroke.

Methods and design: The ADVENT trial is a multicenter, randomized, parallel-controlled, double-blind clinical trial. A total of 1084 patients undergoing IVT without subsequent endovascular treatment will be recruited from multiple hospitals in China. Subjects will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive tirofiban or placebo, which will be infused within 6 h after IVT until 24 h after IVT, at 0.4 μg/kg/min for 30 min and then at 0.1 μg/kg/min. The primary efficacy outcome is the proportion of patients with excellent functional outcomes (modified Rankin Scale (mRS) ⩽ 1) at 90 days. Secondary outcomes include the proportion of patients with favorable functional outcomes (mRS ⩽ 2) at 90 days and neurological functional assessments evaluated during hospitalization. Symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage will be the primary safety outcome. Mortality and other adverse events will be recorded.

Discussion: This pivotal trial will provide important data on the early administration of antiplatelet therapy after IVT and may promote progress in treatment standards.

Trial registry: ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT06045156).