Early antithrombotic therapy in patients with postinterventional cerebral hyperdensity reduces early neurological deterioration after mechanical thrombectomy.

BACKGROUND

Initiation of early antithrombotic therapy after acute ischemic stroke (AIS) is crucial. We aimed to investigate whether early antithrombotic therapy influences early neurological deterioration (END) in AIS patients with postinterventional cerebral hyperdensity (PCHD) immediately after mechanical thrombectomy (MT).

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed 108 consecutive anterior circulation AIS patients with PCHD immediately after MT. All patients were divided into END group and non-END group and END was defined as an increase of four points or more on the postinterventional National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score within the first 72 h after MT. Early antithrombotic therapy was defined as patients with PCHD who received antithrombotic therapy within 24 h after MT. Statistical analyses were performed to evaluate the association between early antithrombotic therapy and the risk of END.

RESULTS

Among 108 patients, 27 (25%) patients developed END. Multivariate regression analysis revealed that early use of antithrombotic therapy (OR = 0.229, 95%CI = 0.083-0.626, P = 0.004) was an independent protector of END and postinterventional low density shadow exceeding 1/3 of the vascular territory (OR = 4.000, 95%CI = 1.157-13.834, P = 0.029) was an independent risk factor for END.

CONCLUSION

Antithrombotic therapy within 24 h after MT maybe associated with the reduced risk of END in anterior circulation AIS patients with PCHD.