Risk of warfarin-associated intracerebral haemorrhage after ischaemic stroke is low and unchanged during the 2000s

Commentary on: Asberg A, Erisksson M, Henriksson KM, et al.. Warfarin-associated intracerebral hemorrhage after ischemic stroke. Stroke 2014;45:2118–20. Context Since its isolation during the early half of the 20th century from the mouldy hay responsible for ‘sweet clover disease’ in cattle, warfarin has become the most widely used oral anticoagulant.1 Indications include atrial fibrillation (AF), mechanical prosthetic valves and venous thromboembolism treatment.2 Warfarin reduces stroke risk in patients with AF by nearly two-thirds; AF accounts for 20% of ischaemic strokes, which tend to be more severe than those due to other aetiologies. In the late 1990s, reports began to emerge concluding that patients with AF were being undertreated with warfarin.3 This led to efforts to increase its use. Warfarin prescribing for patients with AF has been adopted as a quality metric.4 Despite proven effectiveness, the most feared complication of...
Source: Evidence-Based Medicine - Category: Internal Medicine Authors: Tags: Epidemiologic studies, Drugs: cardiovascular system, Stroke, Hypertension, Alcohol-related disorders, Drugs misuse (including addiction), Arrhythmias, Alcohol, Health education Aetiology/Harm Source Type: research