ATRIAL FIBRILLATION IN PATIENTS WITH HEMORRHAGIC STROKE: APPROACHES TO ANTICOAGULANT THERAPY

Abstract

The atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common disturbance of cardiac rhythm. The AF is associated with an increase in the rate of hospitalization, mortality, stroke development, heart failure. Oral anticoagulants are the basis for prevention of cardiovascular complications in the AF patients. However, the use of anticoagulants increases the risk of intracerebral hematoma. A special group of patients with hemorrhagic strokes are AF patients. Anticoagulant therapy is indicated for this category of patients, on the one hand, due to high risk of development of thromboembolic complications, on the other hand, it is contraindicated in connection with the development of hemorrhagic stroke. The optimum mode of antithrombotic therapy remains unknown. Current approaches to the AF therapy for patients with hemorrhagic stroke are being discussed.

Keywords

• atrial fibrillation
• anticoagulant therapy
• intracerebral hematoma
• oral anticoagulants
• ischemic stroke