26 Oct 2024 • The optimal timing of anticoagulation for patients with acute ischaemic stoke with atrial fibrillation is uncertain.

The recent OPTIMAS trial, involving over 3,600 patients across 100 UK hospitals, found that initiating direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) early (within 4 days) after an acute ischemic stroke linked to atrial fibrillation (AFib) was non-inferior to the delayed start (7–14 days) for preventing stroke recurrence, systemic embolism, or intracranial hemorrhage at 90 days.

These new findings do not support the current common and guideline-supported practice of delaying DOAC initiation after ischaemic stroke with atrial fibrillation.

Source: Lancet | Read full story