Ischemic stroke under anticoagulant therapy

Abstract

In order to determine predictive factors of stroke recurrence during anticoagulant therapy and to estimate prognosis, we retrospectively examined clinical data of 197 consecutive patients with acute ischemic stroke. The subjects were divided into two groups, within the therapeutic range group and below therapeutic range group, based on Japanese guidelines for the management of stroke 2004. Univariate analysis revealed that cardioembolic stroke patients were less frequent in the therapeutic range group (61% vs 77%; p = 0.03), while more lacunar stroke patients were experienced (17% vs 6%; p = 0.01). In patients with past history of cardioembolic stroke, significant favorable outcomes as of Barthel index (54 vs 33; p = 0.03) and modified Rankin Scale (3 vs 4; p = 0.04) were found within the therapeutic range group. There is a possibility that adequate anticoagulation prevents thrombogenesis or lead to early recanalization, especially in patients with past history of cardioembolic stroke.