Ischemic Stroke After Antithrombotics Withdrawal and Its Impact on Neurological Deterioration

초록

Background: Antithrombotic agent withdrawal is associated with increased thromboembolic events. However, the clinical characteristics of stroke after antithrombotics withdrawal and functional outcome have not been studied. In this study we tried to evaluate clinical significance of antithrombotics withdrawal in stroke occurrence and outcome. Methods: Between January 1st 2009, and March 1st 2012, the acute stroke patients who admitted in Seoul National University Hospital within seven days after symptom onset were reviewed. We defined stroke after antithrombotics withdrawal (SAW) as those stroke patients who had maintained antiplatelet agent or anticoagulant regularly but ceased their medication before stroke onset within 60 days. We reviewed their clinical characteristics as well as the reason of medication cessation, type of medication, and duration between medications hold and stroke onset. To evaluate the effect of antithrombotics withdrawal in stroke outcome, we compared SAW with those patients who experienced stroke on regular medication.