RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Tenecteplase versus alteplase for acute ischaemic stroke in the elderly patients: a post hoc analysis of the TRACE-2 trial JF Stroke and Vascular Neurology JO Stroke Vasc Neurol FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd SP 112 OP 119 DO 10.1136/svn-2023-003048 VO 10 IS 1 A1 Xiong, Yunyun A1 Wang, Liyuan A1 Pan, Yuesong A1 Wang, Mengxing A1 Schwamm, Lee H A1 Duan, Chunmiao A1 Campbell, Bruce C V A1 Li, Shuya A1 Hao, Manjun A1 Wu, Na A1 Cao, Zhixin A1 Wu, Shuangzhe A1 Li, Zixiao A1 Wang, Yongjun YR 2025 UL http://svn.bmj.com/content/10/1/112.abstract AB Background The benefit–risk profile of tenecteplase in the elderly patients with acute ischaemic stroke (AIS) is uncertain. We sought to investigate the efficacy and safety of 0.25 mg/kg tenecteplase compared with alteplase for AIS patients aged ≥80 years.Methods We performed a post hoc analysis of the Tenecteplase Reperfusion Therapy in Acute Ischaemic Cerebrovascular Events-2 Trial, a randomised, phase 3, non-inferiority clinical trial. Disabling AIS patients aged ≥80 years who initiated intravenous thrombolytics within 4.5 hours of symptom onset were enrolled from June 2021 to May 2022 across 53 centres in China and were randomly allocated to receive 0.25 mg/kg tenecteplase or 0.9 mg/kg alteplase. The primary efficacy outcome was the proportion of participants with a modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score of 0–1 at 90 days. Symptomatic intracranial haemorrhage (sICH) within 36 hours was the safety outcome.Results Of 137 participants, mRS 0–1 at 90 days occurred in 37 (49.3%) of 75 in the tenecteplase group vs 20 (33.9%) of 59 in the alteplase group (risk ratio (RR) 1.47, 95% CI 0.96 to 2.23). sICH within 36 hours was observed in 3 (4.0%) of 76 in the tenecteplase group and two (3.3%) of 61 in the alteplase group (RR 1.30, 95% CI 0.20 to 8.41).Conclusions The risk–benefit profile of tenecteplase thrombolysis was preserved in the elderly patients, which lends further support to intravenous 0.25 mg/kg tenecteplase as an alternative to alteplase in these patients.Data are available on reasonable request.