Direct oral anticoagulant- vs vitamin K antagonist-related nontraumatic intracerebral hemorrhage

Neurology. 2017 Sep 12;89(11):1142-1151. doi: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000004362. Epub 2017 Aug 16.

Abstract

Objective: To compare the neuroimaging profile and clinical outcomes among patients with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) related to use of vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) or direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) for nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF).

Methods: We evaluated consecutive patients with NVAF with nontraumatic, anticoagulant-related ICH admitted at 13 tertiary stroke care centers over a 12-month period. We also performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of eligible observational studies reporting baseline characteristics and outcomes among patients with VKA- or DOAC-related ICH.

Results: We prospectively evaluated 161 patients with anticoagulation-related ICH (mean age 75.6 ± 9.8 years, 57.8% men, median admission NIH Stroke Scale [NIHSSadm] score 13 points, interquartile range 6-21). DOAC-related (n = 47) and VKA-related (n = 114) ICH did not differ in demographics, vascular risk factors, HAS-BLED and CHA2DS2-VASc scores, and antiplatelet pretreatment except for a higher prevalence of chronic kidney disease in VKA-related ICH. Patients with DOAC-related ICH had lower median NIHSSadm scores (8 [3-14] vs 15 [7-25] points, p = 0.003), median baseline hematoma volume (12.8 [4-40] vs 24.3 [11-58.8] cm3, p = 0.007), and median ICH score (1 [0-2] vs 2 [1-3] points, p = 0.049). Severe ICH (>2 points) was less prevalent in DOAC-related ICH (17.0% vs 36.8%, p = 0.013). In multivariable analyses, DOAC-related ICH was independently associated with lower baseline hematoma volume (p = 0.006), lower NIHSSadm scores (p = 0.022), and lower likelihood of severe ICH (odds ratio [OR] 0.34, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.13-0.87, p = 0.025). In meta-analysis of eligible studies, DOAC-related ICH was associated with lower baseline hematoma volumes on admission CT (standardized mean difference = -0.57, 95% CI -1.02 to -0.12, p = 0.010) and lower in-hospital mortality rates (OR = 0.44, 95% CI 0.21-0.91, p = 0.030).

Conclusions: DOAC-related ICH is associated with smaller baseline hematoma volume and lesser neurologic deficit at hospital admission compared to VKA-related ICH.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Meta-Analysis
  • Multicenter Study
  • Review
  • Systematic Review

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Oral
  • Aged
  • Anticoagulants / administration & dosage*
  • Atrial Fibrillation / complications
  • Atrial Fibrillation / diagnostic imaging
  • Atrial Fibrillation / drug therapy
  • Brain / diagnostic imaging
  • Brain / drug effects
  • Cerebral Hemorrhage / complications
  • Cerebral Hemorrhage / diagnostic imaging
  • Cerebral Hemorrhage / drug therapy*
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Observational Studies as Topic
  • Prospective Studies
  • Stroke / complications
  • Stroke / diagnostic imaging
  • Stroke / drug therapy*
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Vitamin K / antagonists & inhibitors*

Substances

  • Anticoagulants
  • Vitamin K