Key result
NOACs offer effective and safe alternatives to warfarin for secondary stroke prevention in nonvalvular AF.
This review highlights the pathogenesis of cardioembolic stroke and the evolving role of non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants in secondary prevention.
The rate of cardiogenic embolism among all ischemic strokes is as high as 38%. Cardioembolic strokes are characterized by the higher magnitude of neurological deficit, the high risk of recurrent acute stroke, and a lethal outcome. This review deals with the etiopathogenesis of thrombus formation in the heart chambers, with current criteria for the verification of cardioembolic strokes, with the results of trials of new oral anticoagulants, and latest guidelines for antithrombotic therapy to prevent stroke. Special focus is given to secondary stroke prevention in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation since it is atrial fibrillation that is the most common cause of cardioembolic stroke.
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Vinogradov et al. (2013) conducted a review in Cardioembolic stroke and nonvalvular atrial fibrillation. Antithrombotic therapy (New oral anticoagulants) was evaluated. New oral anticoagulants such as dabigatran and rivaroxaban are effective and safe alternatives to warfarin for secondary stroke prevention in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation.
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