Anticoagulation and Stroke

Abstract

In 2019, the American Heart Association did not recommend the emergent use of anticoagulation to prevent recurrence or progression of acute ischemic stroke. However, its indication in patients with extracranial artery intraluminal thrombus with artery-to-artery cerebral embolization must be analyzed. In this article, we will also discuss other indications of anticoagulation. This treatment could be indicated in patients with ischemic stroke caused by embolization from cervical artery dissection, catastrophic antiphospholipid antibodies syndrome (APS) and some cases of Covid 19. For secondary prevention, anticoagulation is recommended for Cardioembolic stroke such as nonvalvular atrial fibrillation and other cardiopathies, some patients with cervical artery dissection, stroke associated with cancer, and thrombophilia such as APS. The timing to restart anticoagulation after a large ischemic stroke or after a cerebral hemorrhagic transformation always represent a challenge. Even in patients with high risk of thromboembolism it should be delayed at least two weeks, ideal after four weeks.

Resumo

Anticoagulação na fase aguda do acidente vascular isquêmico (AVCI) ainda é um tema bastante controverso. Em 2019, a American Heart Association (AHA) não recomendou o uso precoce da anticoagulação para evitar a progressão ou recorrência de AVCIs de grandes artérias. Mas sugere que a anticoagulação em pacientes com AVCI por embolização a partir de trombos intraluminais aderidos a parede de vasos extracranianos fosse analisada. Tanto a antiagregação como anticoagulação são opções terapêuticas nos casos de AVCI por dissecção arterial cervical. Mas em pacientes com AVCI por mecanismo de embolização, a anticoagulação poderia ser indicada. Pacientes com AVCI e sindrome catastrófica por anticorpos antifosfolípides devem ser anticoagulados além de receber tratamento específico. Outra indicação seriam casos de trombofilia como Covid 19. Nesse artigo de revisão será discutida a prevenção secundária de AVCI em situações específicas (AVCI cardioembólico em pacientes com fibrilação atrial não valvular ou outras cardiopatias, AVCI em casos oncológicos, além de outras trombofilias), além do período ideal para se introduzir ou reiniciar a anticoagulação após transformação hemorrágica.

Keywords:

Ischemic Stroke - Cerebral Infarction - Anticoagulants - Embolic Stroke - Atrial Fibrillation - Cerebral Hemorrhage

Palavras-chave:

AVC Isquêmico - Infarto Cerebral - Anticoagulantes - AVC Embólico - Fibrilação Atrial - Hemorragia Cerebral

Authors’ contributions:

TG, HM, LL: writing of the chapter; CLR review the chapter.

Publication History

Received: 31 March 2022

Accepted: 29 April 2022

Article published online:
06 February 2023

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