Trends in direct oral anticoagulant use in patients presenting with acute stroke

Abstract

Acute ischaemic strokes occur despite the use of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs). A retrospective review was conducted at a high-volume primary stroke centre over a 3-year period to assess the acute management of stroke presentations in patients prescribed DOACs. During the time period of the study, 103 of 195 anticoagulated stroke patients presented within the timeframe for thrombolysis and only 15 patients had DOAC plasma level assays performed. Of these 103, 5 received thrombolysis; however, DOAC level was not a factor in these cases.