Efficacy and safety of early anticoagulation after endovascular treatment in patients with atrial fibrillation

Correlation between thrombocytopenia and adverse outcomes in patients with atrial fibrillation: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

Thrombocytopenia is often associated with adverse outcomes in patients with atrial fibrillation. Therefore, we conducted a meta-analysis to comprehensively assess the impact of thrombocytopenia on ischemic stroke/systemic embolism, major bleeding and all-cause mortality in patients with atrial fibrillation.

Methods

Two electronic databases, PubMed and Web of Science, were systematically searched from their inception to December 1, 2023, including the studies on the correlation between atrial fibrillation patients with thrombocytopenia and adverse outcomes. Relevant data was extracted, literature quality was evaluated, meta-analysis was performed by using REVMAN 5.4 software, and the results were reported with odds ratio (OR) of 95% confidence interval (CI).

Results

A total of 12 studies included 73,824 patients with atrial fibrillation (average age: 72.67, males: 42,275, 57.3%), among them, there were 7,673 patients combined with thrombocytopenia. The average follow-up time of these studies was 87 days to 55 months. Compared to no thrombocytopenia, atrial fibrillation patients combined with thrombocytopenia have a significant risk reduction of ischemic stroke/systemic embolism [OR: 0.79, 95% CI: (0.69, 0.91); P < 0.01]. Nevertheless, the risk of both major bleeding [OR: 1.51, 95% CI: (1.20, 1.79), P < 0.01] and all-cause mortality [OR: 1.40, 95% CI: (1.23, 1.61); P < 0.01] is significantly higher in thrombocytopenia group.

Conclusions

Thrombocytopenia has an important impact on the prognosis of patients with atrial fibrillation. Thrombocytopenia is significantly associated with a lower risk of ischemic stroke/systemic embolism but a higher risk of major bleeding and all-cause mortality. Attention to thrombocytopenia and optimization of treatment may be the effective way to improve the prognosis of atrial fibrillation with thrombocytopenia.

Systematic Review Registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/, PROSPERO Registration Number: (CRD42023459916).

Update of Anticoagulation Use in Cardioembolic Stroke With a Special Reference to Endovascular Treatment

Cardioembolic stroke is a major cause of morbidity, with a high risk of recurrence, and anticoagulation represents the mainstay of secondary stroke prevention in most patients. The implementation of endovascular treatment in routine clinical practice complicates the decision to initiate anticoagulation, especially in patients with early hemorrhagic transformation who are considered at higher risk of hematoma expansion. Late hemorrhagic transformation in the days and weeks following stroke remains a potentially serious complication for which we still do not have any established clinical or radiological prediction tools. The optimal time to initiate therapy is challenging to define since delaying effective secondary prevention treatment exposes patients to the risk of recurrent embolism. Consequently, there is clinical equipoise to define and individualize the optimal timepoint to initiate anticoagulation combining the lowest risk of hemorrhagic transformation and ischemic recurrence in cardioembolic stroke patients. In this narrative review, we will highlight and critically outline recent observational and randomized relevant evidence in different subtypes of cardioembolic stroke with a special focus on anticoagulation initiation following endovascular treatment. We will refer mainly to the commonest cause of cardioembolism, non-valvular atrial fibrillation, and examine the possible risk and benefit of anticoagulation before, during, and shortly after the acute phase of stroke. Other indications of anticoagulation after ischemic stroke will be briefly discussed. We provide a synthesis of available data to help clinicians individualize the timing of initiation of oral anticoagulation based on the presence and extent of hemorrhagic transformation as well as stroke severity.

Postoperative blood glucose increase is associated with futile recanalization in patients with successful thrombectomy: a retrospective study

BACKGROUND

Timely recognition of futile recanalization might enable a prompt response and an improved outcome in post-thrombectomy patients. This study aims to evaluate whether postoperative blood glucose increase (BGI) could act as an indicator of futile recanalization in patients receiving a successful thrombectomy.

METHODS

This is a single-center, retrospective analysis of patients with anterior circulation large-vessel occlusion and successful thrombectomy between February 2019 and June 2022. BGI was defined as a higher level of blood glucose at the first postoperative morning than at admission. Futile recanalization was defined as patients with a modified Rankin Scale score of 3-6 at 90 days after onset. Multivariable binary logistic regression was used to assess the association of BGI with futile recanalization.

RESULTS

A total of 276 patients were enrolled, amongst which 120 patients (43.5%) had BGI. Futile recanalization was more prevalent among patients with BGI compared to those without (70.0 vs. 49.4%, P = 0.001). After adjusting for potential confounders, BGI was associated with a higher likelihood of futile recanalization (adjusted OR: 2.97, 95%CI: 1.50-5.86, P = 0.002). This association was consistently observed regardless of diabetes history, occlusion site, time from symptom onset to groin puncture, or reperfusion status.

CONCLUSION

Our findings support BGI serving as an indicator of futile recanalization in patients with anterior circulation large-vessel occlusion and successful thrombectomy.