Resumption of Direct Oral Anticoagulants in Patients with Acute Spontaneous Intracerebral Hemorrhage.

BACKGROUND

Decisions regarding whether and when to resume direct oral anticoagulants (DOAC) after acute intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) are challenging. We examined the timing of DOAC resumption and factors that influence decision-making in DOAC resumption.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed 43 patients with ICH who were treated with DOAC for nonvalvular atrial fibrillation before ICH onset. All patients were divided into 2 groups (resumption of DOAC and no resumption of DOAC) during hospitalization. Clinical backgrounds, laboratory data, and stroke severity were compared between the groups.

RESULTS

DOAC were resumed in 19 of 39 (49%) acute ICH survivors and were not resumed in 24 patients, including 4 deceased patients. The National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score at admission tended to be higher in the no resumption group (median, 17) than in the resumption group (median, 6) (P = .119). The modified Rankin Scale score was slightly poorer in the no resumption group (median, 4) than in the resumption group (median, 3) (P = .070). In the resumption group, DOAC were resumed at a median of 11 days (interquartile range, 5-21 days) after ICH onset. The modified Rankin Scale score at discharge was positively correlated with the days of DOAC resumption (R = .31, P = .013).

CONCLUSIONS

In half of patients, DOAC were resumed relatively early after ICH onset. Early resumption of DOAC for ICH in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation is considered to be safe. The functional outcome was associated with not only resumption of DOAC but also the timing of resumption.