Recent Intake of Direct Oral Anticoagulants and Acute Stroke: Real World Data from a Comprehensive Stroke Center

Background: Deciding on intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients with reported recent direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) intake remains challenging due to concerns about hemorrhagic risk and limited real-world evidence. This study characterizes AIS patients with recent DOAC use treated at a comprehensive stroke center, routinely performing quantitative anticoagulation testing. Methods: In this retrospective, registry-based study, we analyzed clinical and procedural data from AIS patients with recent DOAC intake and calibrated anti-factor IIa/Xa activity measured within three hours of admission. Patients were treated at the University Hospital Essen between March 2017 and October 2023. Results: Among 469 included patients, anti-factor IIa/Xa activity was ≤30 ng/ml in 28%, >30–≤50 ng/ml in 9%, >50–≤75 ng/ml in 9%, >75–≤100 ng/ml in 9% and >100 ng/ml in 45%. Lower DOAC levels correlated with severe stroke symptoms at admission (ρ = -0.263, p <0.001). IVT was administered to 33.5% of patients with DOAC levels ≤50 ng/ml, compared to only 4% among those with levels >50 ng/ml, the majority of whom received prior reversal with idarucizumab. Symptomatic intracranial haemorrhage (sICH) occurred in 4% of IVT-treated and 1% of non-IVT-treated patients, without association to anticoagulation status. Conclusion: A considerable proportion of AIS patients with recent DOAC intake exhibited minimal or no anticoagulant activity at presentation. Those with the lowest levels also showed highest stroke severity. IVT was safe across all DOAC level groups, with low and comparable sICH rates. These findings support the rationale for a randomized trial evaluating IVT without prior DOAC level testing.