Antiplatelet drug discontinuation is a risk factor for ischemic stroke.
Antiplatelet drugs (APD) are widely used in the prevention of ischemic cardio- and cerebrovascular diseases. The authors studied the frequency of stroke occurring after APD discontinuation, the cause of discontinuation, and the delay between APD disruption and stroke. Only 4.49% of strokes were related to a recent APD discontinuation, but all cases occurred between 6 and 10 days after drug discontinuation (p < 0.0001). This temporal pattern has biologic plausibility because the inhibited platelets circulate in the blood for about 10 days.
Sibon
Igor
I
Fédération de neurosciences cliniques, CHU Bordeaux, France. igor.sibon@chu-bordeaux.fr
Orgogozo
Jean-Marc
JM
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015984:Causality; D002543:Cerebral Hemorrhage / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D002546:Ischemic Attack, Transient / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013997:Time Factors
D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors