Antiplatelet Treatment After Transient Ischemic Attack and Ischemic Stroke in Patients With Cerebral Microbleeds in 2 Large Cohorts and an Updated Systematic Review [Clinical Sciences]

Background and Purpose—In patients with transient ischemic attack/ischemic stroke, microbleed burden predicts intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), and ischemic stroke, but implications for antiplatelet treatment are uncertain. Previous cohort studies have had insufficient follow-up to assess the time course of risks, have not stratified risks by antithrombotic use, and have not reported extracranial bleeds or functional outcome of ICH versus ischemic stroke.Methods—In 2 independent prospective cohorts with transient ischemic attack/ischemic stroke (Oxford Vascular Study/mainly white; University of Hong Kong/mainly Chinese), antiplatelet treatment was started routinely irrespective of microbleed burden. Risks, time course and outcome of ICH, extracranial bleeds, and recurrent ischemic events were determined and stratified by microbleed burden (0 versus 1, 2–4, and ≥5), adjusting for age, sex, and vascular risk factors.Results—Microbleeds were more frequent in the Chinese cohort (450 of 1003 versus 165 of 1080; P
Source: Stroke - Category: Neurology Authors: Tags: Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Intracranial Hemorrhage, Ischemic Stroke, Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA) Original Contributions Source Type: research