Abstract
The clinical profiles was compared between the patients admitted to our hospital with cardioembolic stroke (CE) due to non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) during the period of 2005 to 2010 (Group A) and those after the introduction of NOAC into Japan until 2014 August (Group B). In Group A, 32% and 23% of the patients were treated with warfarin and anti-platelets at the onset of CE, respectively. In Group B, 35%, 9% and 18% of the patients were treated with warfarin, anti-platelets and NOAC at the onset of CE, respectively, suggesting that the use of antiplatelets in patients with NVAF may have been decreased after the introduction of NOAC. In Group B, NIHSS (NIH stroke scale) and the values of peripheral blood D-dimer at the admission were significantly lower in patients already treated with NOAC than those with warfarin or no anticoagulants. In Goup A, the anticoagulants prescribed at the discharge were warfarin in 76% of the patients and no anticoagulants in 24%. In Group B, the anticoagulants prescribed at the discharge were warfarin in 44% of the patients, NOAC in 43% and no anticoagulants in 13%, indicating that NOAC had already been used in a large portion of CE patients. Long-term safety and efficiency of NOAC should be carefully monitored in future,.
