Intra-arterial Thrombolysis For Acute Ischemic Stroke With Medium Vessel Occlusion (IAT-MEVO)

Intra-arterial Thrombolysis for Acute Ischemic Stroke With Medium Vessel Occlusion： A Multicenter Prospective Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

Study purpose:

A multicenter, prospective, randomized, open-label, blinded-endpoint (PROBE) phase III trial is planned to evaluate the efficacy and safety of intra-arterial thrombolysis (IAT) in patients with acute ischemic stroke caused by medium vessel occlusion (MeVO), compared with best medical management alone.

Eligible participants (aged 18-80 years, baseline NIHSS score 6-25 or 3-5 with disabling deficits, confirmed MeVO within 24 hours of symptom onset) will be randomly assigned 1:1 to the intra-arterial thrombolysis plus best medical management group or the best medical management alone group.

Primary endpoint: proportion of patients with favorable functional outcome (modified Rankin Scale score 0-2) at 90±7 days post-randomization.

Secondary endpoints:

1. Recanalization rate (meTICI ≥ 2b) at 24±12 hours post-randomization;
2. Early neurological improvement (NIHSS score change from baseline) at 7±1 days or discharge;
3. Overall distribution of mRS scores at 90±7 days (shift analysis);
4. Excellent functional outcome (mRS score 0-1) at 90±7 days;
5. Health-related quality of life (EQ-5D-5L) at 90±7 days;
6. Functional independence (Barthel Index score 95-100) at 90±7 days;
7. Symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH) per Heidelberg criteria within 48 hours;
8. Early neurological deterioration (NIHSS increase ≥ 4 points or any single item increase ≥ 2 points) within 7 days;
9. Any intracranial hemorrhage within 48 hours;
10. Procedure-related complications;
11. All-cause mortality within 90±7 days.

Study Overview

• Status: Not yet recruiting
• Conditions: Ischemic Stroke, Acute; Medium Vessel Occlusion
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: rt-PA; Recombinant Tissue Plasminogen Activator; Procedure: Intra-arterial Thrombolysis; Drug: Best Medical Management

Detailed Description

With the continuous advancement of endovascular techniques and the widespread adoption of mechanical thrombectomy, endovascular treatment has become the standard of care for acute ischemic stroke caused by large vessel occlusion. However, the optimal management strategy for acute ischemic stroke caused by medium vessel occlusion (MeVO) remains an unmet clinical need. MeVO accounts for approximately 25-40% of all acute ischemic strokes and is associated with substantial morbidity, yet existing evidence from recent randomized controlled trials, including DISTAL and ESCAPE-MeVO, has failed to demonstrate a clear benefit of mechanical thrombectomy over best medical management alone in this population. Potential reasons include the limited suitability of current thrombectomy devices-which were primarily designed for large vessel occlusions-for more distal and tortuous medium vessels, leading to lower recanalization rates and increased risks of vessel perforation, dissection, and vasospasm. Moreover, the significant heterogeneity in patient selection across previous trials, particularly the lack of unified imaging inclusion criteria, may have diluted the potential treatment effect in specific subgroups.

Intra-arterial thrombolysis (IAT), as an alternative endovascular approach, offers theoretical advantages for MeVO. By delivering thrombolytic agents directly into or adjacent to the thrombus via a microcatheter, IAT achieves high local drug concentrations while minimizing systemic exposure. Evidence from the PROACT II study demonstrated that intra-arterial prourokinase significantly improved 90-day functional outcomes in patients with middle cerebral artery occlusion compared with heparin alone. More recently, the CHOICE trial showed that adjunctive intra-arterial alteplase following successful thrombectomy improved functional outcomes in large vessel occlusion stroke. These findings suggest that IAT may effectively dissolve residual thrombi in distal vascular beds and improve microcirculatory reperfusion-mechanisms particularly relevant to MeVO, where thrombus burden is generally smaller and the target vessels are more amenable to pharmacological dissolution.

Despite these promising signals, no dedicated randomized controlled trial has specifically evaluated IAT as a primary treatment strategy for MeVO. Current guidelines provide no clear recommendation for or against endovascular treatment in this population, reflecting the urgent need for high-quality evidence. Furthermore, the optimal patient selection criteria-including imaging parameters (perfusion mismatch), clinical severity thresholds (NIHSS range), and the distinction of isolated medium vessel occlusion from other stroke subtypes-remain to be defined to maximize the therapeutic benefit.

This study intends to conduct a multicenter, prospective, randomized, open-label, blinded-endpoint (PROBE) phase III trial to compare the clinical outcomes of intra-arterial thrombolysis plus best medical management versus best medical management alone in patients with acute ischemic stroke due to medium vessel occlusion. A total of 306 eligible patients (aged 18-80 years) with confirmed MeVO (distal M2/M3, A2/A3, P1/P2/P3 segments) and baseline NIHSS score 6-25 (or 3-5 with disabling deficits) within 24 hours of symptom onset will be enrolled. For patients presenting beyond 6 hours, perfusion imaging criteria (Tmax > 6s ≥ 10cc, with core infarct volume < 50% of the hypoperfusion area) will be applied to select those with salvageable brain tissue. Participants will be randomly assigned 1:1 to receive either intra-arterial thrombolysis (using either alteplase 0.225 mg/kg, maximum 22.5 mg, or tenecteplase 0.0625 mg/kg, maximum 6.25 mg, administered via microcatheter over 15-30 minutes) plus best medical management, or best medical management alone. The primary endpoint is the proportion of patients achieving functional independence (modified Rankin Scale score 0-2) at 90±7 days post-randomization. Secondary endpoints include recanalization rate, early neurological improvement, overall functional outcome distribution, excellent functional outcome, quality of life, functional independence, and comprehensive safety outcomes including symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage, early neurological deterioration, any intracranial hemorrhage, procedure-related complications, and all-cause mortality.

The study is led by the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University (Jiangsu Province Hospital) as the coordinating center, with 25 participating centers across China. An independent Data Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB) will oversee the trial, with one planned interim analysis using an O'Brien-Fleming-like alpha-spending function. The total study duration is 3 years (June 2026 to May 2029), with enrollment anticipated to be completed within 20 months. The results of this trial are expected to provide high-level evidence on whether intra-arterial thrombolysis offers a safe and effective treatment option for patients with acute ischemic stroke due to medium vessel occlusion, potentially establishing a new standard of care in this underserved population.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 306
• Phase: Phase 3

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Xinglong Liu, Doctor; Phone Number: +8618262638087; Email: plear_new@163.com

Study Locations

• China
  • Jiangsu
    • Nanjing, Jiangsu, China, 210000
      • The First Affiliated Hospital with Nanjing Medical University
      • Contact: Xinglong Liu, Doctor; Phone Number: +8618262638087; Email: plear_new@163.com

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age 18 to 80 years.
• Time from symptom onset or last known well to randomization within 24 hours.
• Clinical diagnosis of acute ischemic stroke confirmed by CTA or MRA as being caused by isolated acute medium vessel occlusion, including distal M2/M3 segments of the middle cerebral artery, A2/A3 segments of the anterior cerebral artery, or P1/P2/P3 segments of the posterior cerebral artery. Isolated occlusion is defined as a single symptomatic vessel occlusion; patients with multiple vessel occlusions or uncertain culprit vessel are excluded.
• Baseline NIHSS score ≥ 6, or 3-5 with disabling deficits (e.g., motor weakness, aphasia, visual field defects), and NIHSS score ≤ 25 at the time of randomization.
• For patients presenting beyond 6 hours from symptom onset: perfusion imaging criteria require Tmax > 6s volume ≥ 10 cc, and core infarct volume (defined as rCBF < 30%) less than 50% of the Tmax > 6s volume.
• Patient or legally authorized representative is able to understand and voluntarily sign the informed consent form.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Clinical Exclusion Criteria:
• Pre-stroke modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score > 2.
• Presence of contraindications to intravenous thrombolysis.
• Known allergy to heparin, contrast media, anesthetics, or other definite contraindications to endovascular treatment.
• Comorbid severe diseases that may affect outcome assessment, including but not limited to malignancy, severe heart failure, or renal failure, with expected life expectancy < 6 months.
• Uncontrolled hypertension refractory to medical therapy (systolic blood pressure > 220 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure > 120 mmHg).
• Baseline blood glucose < 2.8 mmol/L (50 mg/dL) or > 22.2 mmol/L (400 mg/dL).
• Known bleeding diathesis, including but not limited to: platelet count < 100 × 10⁹/L; heparin treatment within 48 hours with APTT ≥ 35 seconds; oral warfarin with INR > 3. Note: Patients without a history or suspicion of coagulation disorders do not require laboratory testing for coagulation parameters prior to enrollment.
• Stroke onset with seizure or seizure occurring during the course of stroke, precluding accurate determination of baseline NIHSS score.
• Female patients who are pregnant, lactating, or have a positive pregnancy test at hospital admission.
• Currently participating in another investigational drug or device study that may interfere with the results of this study.
• Other conditions judged by the investigator to be unsuitable for participation or posing significant risk to the patient.
• Imaging Exclusion Criteria:
• Intracranial hemorrhage confirmed by baseline head CT or MRI, including parenchymal hemorrhage, intraventricular hemorrhage, subarachnoid hemorrhage, or subdural/epidural hemorrhage.
• Presence of midline shift or cerebral herniation, or other ventricular mass effect with midline shift.
• Anticipated inability to complete endovascular treatment due to vascular tortuosity, severe vessel wall calcification, or other anatomical challenges.
• Aortic dissection.
• Multiple vessel occlusions confirmed by CTA or MRA with inability to identify the symptomatic culprit vessel, such as bilateral middle cerebral artery occlusion or concurrent middle cerebral artery and basilar artery occlusion.
• Suspected or confirmed non-acute occlusion of the symptomatic culprit vessel.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Intra-arterial Thrombolysis plus Best Medical Management; Participants receive intra-arterial thrombolysis (IAT) via microcatheter plus best medical management (BMM). For small thrombus, microcatheter is positioned adjacent to or within the thrombus. For larger burden, microcatheter is advanced through the occluded segment with staged administration from distal to proximal portions (one-third of total dose per segment). Agent: alteplase 0.225 mg/kg (max 22.5 mg) or tenecteplase 0.0625 mg/kg (max 6.25 mg), administered over 15-30 min, consistent with any prior IV thrombolysis. Procedure ends at meTICI ≥ 2b or when risks outweigh benefits. BMM includes antiplatelet, anticoagulation (if indicated), statins, BP/glycemic control, and rehabilitation.	Drug: rt-PA; Recombinant Tissue Plasminogen Activator; Administered intra-arterially via microcatheter. Agent options: alteplase (rt-PA) at 0.225 mg/kg (maximum 22.5 mg) or tenecteplase (TNK) at 0.0625 mg/kg (maximum 6.25 mg), infused over 15-30 minutes. The choice of agent should be consistent with any prior intravenous thrombolysis.; Procedure: Intra-arterial Thrombolysis; Microcatheter is navigated to the occluded medium vessel. For small thrombus burden, positioned adjacent to or within the thrombus. For larger burden, advanced through occluded segment with staged administration distal-to-proximal (one-third per segment). Procedure ends at meTICI ≥ 2b or when risks outweigh benefits.; Drug: Best Medical Management; Best medical management per local guidelines, including antiplatelet therapy, anticoagulation (if indicated), statins, blood pressure and glycemic control, and rehabilitation.
Active Comparator: Best Medical Management Alone; Participants receive best medical management alone per local guidelines, including antiplatelet therapy, anticoagulation (if indicated), statins, blood pressure and glycemic control, and rehabilitation. No endovascular intervention is permitted.	Drug: Best Medical Management; Best medical management per local guidelines, including antiplatelet therapy, anticoagulation (if indicated), statins, blood pressure and glycemic control, and rehabilitation.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Proportion of patients with favorable functional outcome at 90 days	Favorable functional outcome is defined as a modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score of 0 to 2, assessed at 90±7 days post-randomization. The mRS is a 7-point ordinal scale (range 0-6) measuring functional independence and disability, with 0 indicating no symptoms and 6 indicating death.	90 days post-randomization (90±7 days)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Proportion of patients with procedure-related complications	Proportion of patients experiencing procedure-related complications associated with intra-arterial intervention, including but not limited to vessel perforation, dissection, distal embolization, and vasospasm.	Within 24 hours post-procedure
Recanalization rate at 24 hours	Proportion of patients achieving successful recanalization, defined as meTICI (modified expanded Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction) grade ≥ 2b, assessed at 24±12 hours post-randomization by CTA or MRA.	24±12 hours post-randomization
Proportion of patients with any intracranial hemorrhage at 48 hours	Proportion of patients with any type of intracranial hemorrhage occurring within 48 hours post-randomization, including site and type classified according to the Heidelberg Bleeding Classification criteria.	48 hours post-randomization
Proportion of patients with symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage at 48 hours	Proportion of patients with symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH) occurring within 48 hours post-randomization, defined and classified according to the Heidelberg Bleeding Classification criteria.	48 hours post-randomization
Proportion of patients with early neurological deterioration at 7 days	Proportion of patients with early neurological deterioration (END) within 7 days post-randomization, defined as an increase of ≥ 4 points in total NIHSS score from baseline, or an increase of ≥ 2 points in any single NIHSS item.	7 days post-randomization
Early neurological improvement at 7 days	Change in National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score from baseline to 7±1 days post-randomization or at hospital discharge, whichever occurs first. The NIHSS is an 11-item scale (range 0-42) measuring stroke severity, with higher scores indicating more severe neurological deficits.	7±1 days post-randomization or hospital discharge, whichever occurs first
Proportion of patients with excellent functional outcome at 90 days	Proportion of patients achieving excellent functional outcome, defined as modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score of 0 to 1, at 90±7 days post-randomization.	90±7 days post-randomization
Overall distribution of functional outcomes at 90 days	Shift analysis of the full distribution of modified Rankin Scale (mRS) scores (0-6) at 90±7 days post-randomization, assessing the shift toward better functional outcomes.	90±7 days post-randomization
Proportion of patients with functional independence at 90 days	Proportion of patients achieving functional independence, defined as Barthel Index score of 95 or 100, at 90±7 days post-randomization. The Barthel Index is a 10-item scale (range 0-100) measuring activities of daily living, with higher scores indicating greater independence.	90±7 days post-randomization
Health-related quality of life at 90 days	Health-related quality of life assessed by the EuroQol 5-Dimension 5-Level (EQ-5D-5L) questionnaire at 90±7 days post-randomization. The EQ-5D-5L measures mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort, and anxiety/depression on a 5-point severity scale.	90±7 days post-randomization
All-cause mortality at 90 days	Proportion of patients who die from any cause within 90±7 days post-randomization.	90±7 days post-randomization

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Rescue therapy rate	Proportion of patients who receive rescue intra-arterial thrombolysis due to neurological deterioration (NIHSS increase ≥ 4 points from baseline) within 24 hours of symptom onset with imaging evidence of salvageable brain tissue (Tmax > 6s ≥ 10cc and core infarct < 50% of hypoperfusion area).	Within 24 hours post-randomization

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: The First Affiliated Hospital with Nanjing Medical University
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Sheng Liu, Professor, The First Affiliated Hospital with Nanjing Medical University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Estimated): July 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): July 30, 2028
• Study Completion (Estimated): August 31, 2029

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: June 22, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 22, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): June 25, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): June 25, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 22, 2026
• Last Verified: June 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: acute ischemic stroke; intra-arterial thrombolysis; medium vessel occlusion
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Cerebrovascular Disorders; Brain Diseases; Central Nervous System Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Vascular Diseases; Cardiovascular Diseases; Stroke; Ischemic Stroke; Amino Acids, Peptides, and Proteins; Proteins; Biological Factors; Hydrolases; Enzymes; Enzymes and Coenzymes; Blood Proteins; Endopeptidases; Peptide Hydrolases; Serine Endopeptidases; Serine Proteases; Plasminogen Activators; Blood Coagulation Factors; Tissue Plasminogen Activator
• Other Study ID Numbers: 2026-SR-399

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: UNDECIDED
• IPD Plan Description: The steering committee has not yet finalized the specific IPD sharing plan, including the data repository platform, timeframe, and access review procedures. This will be determined prior to the primary publication and updated on ClinicalTrials.gov at that time.

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No