Impact of pre-admission oral anticoagulation on ischaemic stroke volume, lesion pattern, and frequency of intracranial arterial occlusion in patients with atrial fibrillation

Therapeutic oral anticoagulation on hospital admission reduces morbidity and mortality after acute ischaemic stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). The underlying mechanism is not fully understood. In order to assess the impact of INR-level on admission on stroke volume, lesion pattern and the frequency of intracranial arterial occlusion, we analysed serial MRI measurements in AF patients suffering acute ischaemic stroke. This subgroup analysis of the prospective '1000Plus' study included patients with acute ischaemic stroke and known AF or a first episode of AF in hospital. All patients underwent serial brain magnetic resonance imaging. Stroke patients were categorized as follows: Group1, phenprocoumon intake, international normalized ratio (INR) ≥1.7 on admission, no thrombolysis; Group2, INR