Differences in Clot Preparation Determine Outcome of Recombinant Tissue Plasminogen Activator Treatment in Experimental Thromboembolic Stroke

rtPA-induced thrombolysis promotes rapid reperfusion and tissue recovery in animals embolized with spontaneously forming clots but not in those embolized with thrombin-induced clots. This difference is explained by the different mechanical and possibly molecular consequences of clot preparation and must be considered for the interpretation of thrombolysis experiments.