UMEM Educational Pearls

Title: Coagulopathic Contraindications for tPA use in Stroke

Category: Neurology

Keywords: coagulopathic, tPA, stroke, coagulopathy (PubMed Search)

Posted: 9/18/2008 by Aisha Liferidge, MD (Updated: 9/3/2026)

tPA should NOT be used to treat ischemic stroke in the following instances:

Platelet count < 100,000
INR > 1.7 or PT > 15
Heparin administration within past 48 hours with subsequent PTT above upper limits of normal