Clinical Features of Ischemic Stroke during Treatment with Dabigatran: An Association between Decreased Severity and a Favorable Prognosis

OBJECTIVE: Anticoagulation therapy with warfarin is associated with a favorable prognosis in ischemic stroke. Dabigatran, a new oral anticoagulant, is widely used to prevent ischemic stroke in non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) patients. However, its association with decreased severity and a favorable prognosis once ischemic stroke has occurred remains unknown. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed all the patients with NVAF-associated ischemic stroke admitted to our hospital from April 2011 to December 2014 and included those who received dabigatran therapy. We assessed whether the patients were under regular use of the drug or discontinuance and classified them into 2 groups, the treatment and discontinuation groups. Clinical data, including the age, sex, ASCOD stroke phenotype, NVAF type, prescribed drug dose, comorbidities, CHADS2 score, renal function, National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score on admission, modified Rankin scale (mRS) score at discharge, D-dimer, and brain natriuretic peptide, were investigated and compared between the groups. RESULTS: Nine patients were under regular dabigatran therapy, and 6 were under discontinuance of the drug. The age, sex, ASCOD stroke phenotype, NVAF type, comorbidities, renal function, and CHADS2 scores did not differ between the 2 groups; however, the NIHSS scores were significantly lower in the treatment group. The mRS scores at discharge were additionally decreased in the treatment group. Moreover, the D-dimer scores were lower in the treatment group, thus suggesting a possible role in the decreased stroke severity. CONCLUSION: Dabigatran may therefore decrease the severity of ischemic stroke, even if ischemic stroke occurs.