Intravenous Thrombolysis in Patients With Recent Intake of Direct Oral Anticoagulants: A Target Trial Analysis and Comparison With Reversal Agent Use.

Background: Intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) in patients with recent ingestion of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) is a frequent challenge and remains controversial. The benefit of DOAC reversal before IVT is uncertain.

Methods: Using target trial methodology, we analyzed data from 28 comprehensive stroke centers.

Baseline characteristics of patients with acute ischaemic stroke included in the randomised controlled Find-AF 2 trial.

Background: In the Find-AF 2 randomised controlled trial, we investigate whether a risk-adapted intensified heart rhythm monitoring with subsequent initiation of oral anticoagulation in ischaemic stroke patients leads to a reduction of recurrent ischaemic stroke and systemic embolism. The objective of this analysis is to present baseline characteristics of the overall Find-AF 2 study population and stratified by low or high risk for developing AF.

Methods: The Find-AF 2 trial included acute ischaemic stroke patients ≥ 60 years of age within 30 days of ischaemic stroke of any cause.

Specific Reversal Agents for Direct Oral Anticoagulants in Acute Stroke.

Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) changed stroke prevention and decreased the risk of ischemic and hemorrhagic complications in patients on oral anticoagulation (OAC) therapy. The numbers of patients prescribed DOACs has increased rapidly. Availability of specific reversal agents opened new avenues in the prevention and management of DOAC complications.

Idarucizumab in dabigatran-treated patients with acute stroke: a review and clinical update.

Idarucizumab is an antibody fragment specific for the immediate reversal of dabigatran anticoagulation effects. The use of idarucizumab is approved for dabigatran-treated patients suffering from life-threatening or uncontrolled bleeding and those in need of urgent surgery or invasive procedures. Data from randomized controlled clinical trials and real-world experience provide reassuring evidence about the efficacy and safety of idarucizmab use in patients with acute stroke.

Andexanet Alfa: What We Have Learned from Clinical Trials and Real-World Data.

Andexanet alfa is a specific reversal agent for factor Xa inhibitors with immediate reversal of their anticoagulant effect. Andexanet alfa is currently approved for use in patients treated with rivaroxaban and apixaban who have life-threatening or uncontrolled bleeding. New data from both controlled clinical trials and real-world experience are continuously being published, providing greater insight into the clinical characteristics of the drug, such as efficacy and safety.

Treatment of Acute Ischaemic Stroke and Concomitant Multiple Arterial Splanchnic Thromboses in a Patient with Immune Thrombocytopenia on Thrombopoietin Agonist: A Case Report.

Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is an autoimmune blood disorder characterised by isolated severe thrombocytopenia. Arterial thrombotic events, such as acute ischaemic stroke (AIS), are rare complications. A 56-year-old woman with chronic ITP on eltrombopag and dexamethasone therapy presented to the emergency department due to AIS in the vertebrobasilar territory, and lower abdominal pain.

Andexanet Alfa to Reverse the Effect of Factor Xa Inhibitors in Intracranial Hemorrhage.

Andexanet alfa (AA) is a recombinant factor Xa competing for binding with factor Xa inhibitors, thereby reversing their anticoagulation effects. Since 2019, it has been approved for individuals under apixaban or rivaroxaban therapy suffering from life-threatening or uncontrolled bleeding. Apart from the pivotal trial, real-world data on the use of AA in daily clinics are scarce.

Standard operating procedure for idarucizumab reversal of dabigatran anticoagulation in ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke.

Background: Reversal of dabigatran anticoagulation activity using idarucizumab is indicated for individuals suffering from life-threatening or non-controlled bleeding and those in need of urgent operation or invasive intervention. Through idarucizumab application patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) may regain eligibility for intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) and patients with intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) may show less hematoma growth, thereby improving functional outcome in both groups. However, evidence is limited, and international guidelines contain heterogenous recommendations substantiating the need for the review of evidence and standard operating procedures (SOPs).

Acute adverse events of Sars-CoV2 vaccines: Experiences from a health care worker vaccination campaign in two municipal hospitals in northwest Germany.

Vaccination is considered the best measure to overcome the Sars-Cov2 pandemic. However, changing national recommendations on sequence and time frame necessitate the collection of real-word data on adverse events of Sars-CoV2 vaccination protocols outside of pivotal trials. We report results from a survey on the adverse events and the operational consequences of a Sars-CoV2 vaccination campaign with partly mixed vaccination protocol as well as booster vaccination.

Belly Dancer's Dyskinesia: 3 Cases of a Rare Entity.

Involuntary, undulating, or circular movements of abdominal wall muscles are a rare condition descriptively termed belly dancer syndrome or belly dancer's dyskinesia. Differential diagnoses range from cerebral, spinal, peripheral, hormonal/drug-induced effects to local or even unknown/idiopathic and functional/psychogenic causes. Thorough diagnostic work-up is mandatory and therapeutic options depend on etiology and include surgical approaches and symptomatic treatment.

SOP: thrombolysis in ischemic stroke under oral anticoagulation therapy.

Introduction: Based on demographical trends and the expected worldwide increase in the number of individuals with atrial fibrillation, the rate of patients who are on oral anticoagulation therapy for secondary prevention of stroke rises continuously. Despite correct drug intake and good adherence to the respective medication, recurrent ischemic stroke still occurs in ~ 3% of patients. The question how to deal with such patients with regard to intravenous thrombolysis with rt-PA within the 4.

Autoantibodies Against the Purkinje Cell Protein RGS8 in Paraneoplastic Cerebellar Syndrome.

Objective: To describe the identification of regulator of G-protein signaling 8 (RGS8) as an autoantibody target in patients with cerebellar syndrome associated with lymphoma.

Methods: Sera of 4 patients with a very similar unclassified reactivity against cerebellar Purkinje cells were used in antigen identification experiments. Immunoprecipitations with cerebellar lysates followed by mass spectrometry identified the autoantigen, which was verified by recombinant immunofluorescence assay, immunoblot, and ELISA with the recombinant protein.

Health-related quality of life, anxiety and depression up to 12 months post-stroke: Influence of sex, age, stroke severity and atrial fibrillation - A longitudinal subanalysis of the Find-AF trial.

Background: Stroke can negatively impact the health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Anxiety or depression after stroke have been associated with poorer HRQoL, higher mortality and greater dependence in activities of daily living. We aimed to analyze HRQoL, anxiety and depressive symptoms in patients with and without atrial fibrillation (AF) up to 12 months post-stroke.

Antagonizing dabigatran by idarucizumab in cases of ischemic stroke or intracranial hemorrhage in Germany-Updated series of 120 cases.

Background: Idarucizumab is a monoclonal antibody fragment with high affinity for dabigatran reversing its anticoagulant effects within minutes. Thereby, patients with acute ischemic stroke who are on dabigatran treatment may become eligible for thrombolysis with recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator (rt-PA). In patients on dabigatran with intracerebral hemorrhage idarucizumab could prevent lesion growth.

Brain Natriuretic Peptide and Discovery of Atrial Fibrillation After Stroke: A Subanalysis of the Find-AF Trial.

Background and Purpose- Diagnosing paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (pAF) can be challenging after acute ischemic stroke. Enhanced and prolonged Holter-ECG monitoring (EPM) improves the detection rate but is not feasible for all patients. We hypothesized that brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) may help to identify patients with stroke at high risk for pAF to select patients for EPM more effectively.

Longitudinal optic neuritis-unrelated visual evoked potential changes in NMO spectrum disorders.

Objective: To investigate if patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) develop subclinical visual pathway impairment independent of acute attacks.

Methods: A total of 548 longitudinally assessed full-field visual evoked potentials (VEP) of 167 patients with NMOSD from 16 centers were retrospectively evaluated for changes of P100 latencies and P100-N140 amplitudes. Rates of change in latencies (RCL) and amplitudes (RCA) over time were analyzed for each individual eye using linear regression and compared using generalized estimating equation models.

Global Use of Idarucizumab in Clinical Practice: Outcomes of the RE-VECTO Surveillance Program.

Idarucizumab was approved for the reversal of dabigatran in 2015. We investigated whether postapproval usage patterns of idarucizumab in a real-world setting reflect those observed in the pivotal trials. No safety or efficacy data were collected in this medical record-based observational study.

Economic evaluation of prolonged and enhanced ECG Holter monitoring in acute ischemic stroke patients.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a major cause for recurrent stroke, has severe impact on a patient's health and imposes a high economic burden for society. Current guidelines recommend 24 h ECG monitoring (standard-of-care, SoC) to detect AF after stroke to reduce the risk of future events. However, paroxysmal AF (PAF) is difficult to detect within this period as it occurs infrequently and unpredictably.

The cardiac diagnostic work-up in stroke patients-A subanalysis of the Find-AFRANDOMISED trial.

Background: The cardiac diagnostic workup of stroke patients, especially the value of echocardiography and enhanced and prolonged Holter-ECG monitoring, is still a matter of debate. We aimed to analyse the impact of pathologies detected by echocardiography and ECG monitoring on therapeutic decisions and prognosis.

Methods: Find-AFRANDOMISED was a prospective multicenter study which randomised 398 acute ischemic stroke patients ≥ 60 years to enhanced and prolonged Holter-ECG monitoring or usual stroke unit care.