Intravenous thrombolysis and mechanical thrombectomy in acute stroke patients on direct oral anticoagulants

Intravenous thrombolysis and mechanical thrombectomy reduce morbidity and improve functional outcome in ischemic stroke. However, acute recanalization therapies may increase the risk of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage due to its effects on the brain tissue. An increasing proportion of patients with ischemic stroke are using direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs). While current international guidelines recommend against intravenous thrombolysis in patients with intake of DOACs within the last 48 h, they also highlight lack of evidence in the area. Based on these guidelines, a significant proportion of patients are consequently disqualified from intravenous thrombolysis. Measuring anticoagulant activity before intravenous thrombolysis has been suggested as a way to select patients with low risk of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage, but uncertainty exists about feasibility, validity, availability and costs. Reversal agents have demonstrated potential in facilitating safer intravenous thrombolysis administration, though their efficacy is not established in randomized controlled trials, and logistical and cost-related barriers limit their widespread use. During the last couple of years several large cohort studies reported no significant increase in symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage among selected patients on DOACs receiving intravenous thrombolysis compared to those not on anticoagulants, even without the use of DOAC plasma levels or reversal agents. Mechanical thrombectomy appears to be generally safe in patients with recent DOAC intake. The aim of this review is to discuss the uncertainty around the safety and efficacy of intravenous thrombolysis and thrombectomy in patients with a recent intake of DOAC, summarize existing knowledge, and outline potential approaches.