Rivaroxaban in cervical and “cervico-cerebral” artery dissections: a new therapeutic option?

We describe four cases of CADs and, firstly in literature, cervico-cerebral (CCADs) in young patients (average age of 42  years) treated with rivaroxaban 20 mg daily. Three of these four dissections had affected the vertebral artery (condition with an unfavorable prognosis and more often complicated by subarachnoid hemorrhages), and the other one was a carotid dissection at the extra-intracranial passage. All patien ts were followed clinically and with serial neurosonological examinations at 1, 3, and 6 months and with magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) at 6 months. All patients presented a good outcome with vascular recanalization without stroke recurrence or bleedings, even in patients with intracranial v ertebral artery involvement. DOACs could be an alternative in young patients with CADs and their use could be considered in intracranial artery dissections too.
Source: Neurological Sciences - Category: Neurology Source Type: research