title: Dabigatran Therapy in Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients Without Atrial Fibrillation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Acute ischemic stroke patients are at risk of early recurrence. We tested the feasibility and safety of initiating dabigatran in patients, within 24 hours of minor stroke in patients without atrial fibrillation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Minor stroke patients (National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score ≤3) without atrial fibrillation and evidence of acute infarction on magnetic resonance imaging were treated with dabigatran. Treatment began within 24 hours of onset and was continued for 30 days. The primary end point was symptomatic hemorrhagic transformation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 53 patients with median (interquartile range) age of 68 (57-77) years and National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score of 1 (0-2) were enrolled. Baseline diffusion-weighted imaging volume was 0.8 (0.3-2.4) mL. No patients experienced symptomatic hemorrhagic transformation. Three patients had evidence of asymptomatic petechial hemorrhagic transformation on day 7, which remained stable at day 30, while continuing dabigatran.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dabigatran treatment within 24 hours of minor stroke is feasible. A larger randomized trial is required to confirm the safety and efficacy of this treatment approach.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT 01769703.
authors: From the Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
authors: Mahesh
authors: M
authors: Kate
authors: From the Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
authors: Laura
authors: L
authors: Gioia
authors: From the Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
authors: Brian
authors: B
authors: Buck
authors: From the Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
authors: Leka
authors: L
authors: Sivakumar
authors: From the Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
authors: Thomas
authors: T
authors: Jeerakathil
authors: From the Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
authors: Ashfaq
authors: A
authors: Shuaib
authors: From the Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. ken.butcher@ualberta.ca.
authors: Kenneth
authors: K
authors: Butcher
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000991:Antithrombins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000069604:Dabigatran / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020521:Stroke / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000991:Antithrombins; D000069604:Dabigatran
keywords: anticoagulants; brain infarction; dabigatran; stroke