Stroke patients could benefit from earlier blood thinning treatment, finds research

Medical Xpress / University College London / World Stroke Congress 2024 / The Lancet ^ | Oct. 28, 2024 | Poppy Tombs / David J Werring et al

[ConservativeMind]

People with atrial fibrillation (AF) who have a stroke could benefit from blood thinning treatments, known as anticoagulants, at an earlier stage than is currently recommended, finds a study.

The study found that it is safe and effective to give blood thinning treatments to AF stroke patients within four days of them having a stroke, rather than waiting for up to 14 days as has previously been recommended.

Atrial fibrillation is a heart rhythm disturbance that affects many people as they get older. It results in an irregular heartbeat, which can lead to a clot forming inside the heart. This clot can travel to the brain, blocking its blood supply and causing a stroke.

People with AF who have had a stroke have an increased risk of having another, but this risk can be reduced by taking anticoagulants.

Current UK guidelines are varied, suggesting that those who have had a moderate or severe stroke should wait at least five days before starting blood thinning treatments.

Professor David Werring said, "There are concerns that starting anticoagulants too early might increase the risk of bleeding into the area of the brain damaged by the stroke—especially in people with more severe strokes. However, starting them too late might leave the patient at risk of stroke due to further clots from the heart."

The team analyzed 3,621 AF patients who had had a stroke between 2019 and 2024, across 100 UK hospitals. Half of the participants began anticoagulant treatment within 4 days of their stroke (early), and the other half started treatment 7-14 days after having a stroke (delayed).

Both the early and late groups experienced a similar number of recurrent strokes. Early treatment was found to be effective and did not increase the risk of a bleed into the brain.

[ConservativeMind]

Go ahead and take the anticoagulants early to minimize the seriousness of the current and possible next stroke, without worrying about excessive bleeding.

[ConservativeMind]

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[sauropod]

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[Robert357]

It has long been known that regularly donating blood reduces your risk of strokes.

You can reduce your risk of stroke without blood thinners and help people survive trauma and surgeries.

Also many NSAID’s can cause hearing loss.

[muglywump]

Try nattokinase.

[Red Badger]

Duh!...................🙄

[JimRed]

That’s if the stroke was caused by a blockage. But a leaking aneurism is another matter.

[FrogMom]

This is in the UK? When I had my ischemic stroke here in the US, they said they had to administer the blood thinner within 4 hours, not 4 weeks!