Risk of intracranial hemorrhage with direct oral anticoagulants: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Epidemiology and outcomes of intracerebral hemorrhage associated with oral anticoagulation over 10 years in a population-based stroke registry

BACKGROUND

Recent years have seen a change in the use of anticoagulants in the general population due to the availability of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) as an alternative to vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) and increased detection of atrial fibrillation. It is important to have updated epidemiological data to understand how this change is impacting on the occurrence and outcome of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Our prospective population-based registry included patients with first-ever ICH occurring from January 2011 to December 2020. Oral anticoagulants (OAC)-related ICH was defined as an ICH occurring within 48 h from the intake of DOAC or VKAs, regardless of the measured international normalized ratio on hospital admission.

RESULTS

We included 748 first-ever ICH, of whom 108 (14.4%) were OAC-related. Specifically, 75 (69.4%) ICHs occurred on VKA and 33 (30.6%) on DOAC. The incidence of oral anticoagulation-associated intracerebral hemorrhage (OAC-ICH) was stable over time (p = 0.226). Among OAC-ICHs, we observed an increase in the overall incidence of DOAC-ICH (p for trend < 0.001) which overcome that of VKA-ICH in 2020 (incidence rate ratio (IRR) 4.71, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.22-33.54; p = 0.022). Patients with OAC-ICH showed higher 30-day case fatality rates than those with non-OAC-ICH (48.1% vs 34.1%; p = 0.007).

CONCLUSION

No changes over time were detected in the incidence of OAC-ICH, but throughout the study period, there was a change in OAC-ICH from mostly VKA-related to mostly DOAC-related. Mortality in patients with OAC-ICH was higher than in patients with non-OAC-ICH.

Management of cerebral amyloid angiopathy and atrial fibrillation: We are still far from precision medicine

The use of anticoagulation therapy could prove to be controversial when trying to balance ischemic stroke and intracranial bleeding risks in patients with concurrent cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) and atrial fibrillation (AF). In fact, CAA is an age-related cerebral vasculopathy that predisposes patients to intracerebral hemorrhage. Nevertheless, many AF patients require oral systemic dose-adjusted warfarin, direct oral anticoagulants (such as factor Xa inhibitors) or direct thrombin inhibitors to control often associated with cardioembolic stroke risk. The prevalence of both CAA and AF is expected to rise, due to the aging of the population. This clinical dilemma is becoming increasingly common. In patients with coexisting AF and CAA, the risks/benefits profile of anticoagulant therapy must be assessed for each patient individually due to the lack of a clear-cut consensus with regard to its risks in scientific literature. This review aims to provide an overview of the management of patients with concomitant AF and CAA and proposes the implementation of a risk-based decision-making algorithm.

Reversal and resumption of anticoagulants in patients with anticoagulant-associated intracerebral hemorrhage

The use of anticoagulants has become more frequent due to the progressive aging population and increased thromboembolic events. Consequently, the proportion of anticoagulant-associated intracerebral hemorrhage (AAICH) in stroke patients is gradually increasing. Compared with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) patients without coagulopathy, patients with AAICH may have larger hematomas, worse prognoses, and higher mortality. Given the need for anticoagulant reversal and resumption, the management of AAICH differs from that of conventional medical or surgical treatments for ICH, and it is more specific. Understanding the pharmacology of anticoagulants and identifying agents that can reverse their effects in the early stages are crucial for treating life-threatening AAICH. When patients transition beyond the acute phase and their vital signs stabilize, it is important to consider resuming anticoagulants at the right time to prevent the occurrence of further thromboembolism. However, the timing and strategy for reversing and resuming anticoagulants are still in a dilemma. Herein, we summarize the important clinical studies, reviews, and related guidelines published in the past few years that focus on the reversal and resumption of anticoagulants in AAICH patients to help implement decisive diagnosis and treatment strategies in the clinical setting.

Higher risk of traumatic intracranial hemorrhage with antiplatelet therapy compared to oral anticoagulation-a single-center experience

PURPOSE

Traumatic brain injury is the main reason for the emergency department visit of up to 3% of the patients and a major worldwide cause for morbidity and mortality. Current emergency management guidelines recommend close attention to patients taking oral anticoagulation but not patients on antiplatelet therapy. Recent studies have begun to challenge this. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of antiplatelet therapy and oral anticoagulation on traumatic intracranial hemorrhage.

METHODS

Medical records of adult patients triaged with "head injury" as the main reason for emergency care were retrospectively reviewed from January 1, 2017, to December 31, 2017, and January 1, 2020, to December 31, 2021. Patients ≥ 18 years with head trauma were included. Odds ratio was calculated, and multiple logistic regression was performed.

RESULTS

A total of 4850 patients with a median age of 70 years were included. Traumatic intracranial hemorrhage was found in 6.2% of the patients. The risk ratio for traumatic intracranial hemorrhage in patients on antiplatelet therapy was 2.25 (p < 0.001, 95% confidence interval 1.73-2.94) and 1.38 (p = 0.002, 95% confidence interval 1.05-1.84) in patients on oral anticoagulation compared to patients without mediations that affect coagulation. In binary multiple regression, antiplatelet therapy was associated with intracranial hemorrhage, but oral anticoagulation was not.

CONCLUSION

This study shows that antiplatelet therapy is associated with a higher risk of traumatic intracranial hemorrhage compared to oral anticoagulation. Antiplatelet therapy should be given equal or greater consideration in the guidelines compared to anticoagulation therapy. Further studies on antiplatelet subtypes within the context of head trauma are recommended to improve the guidelines' diagnostic accuracy.

Management of oral anticoagulant therapy after intracranial hemorrhage in patients with atrial fibrillation

Intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) is considered a potentially severe complication of oral anticoagulants (OACs) and antiplatelet therapy (APT). Patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) who survived ICH present both an increased ischemic and bleeding risk. Due to its lethality, initiating or reinitiating OACs in ICH survivors with AF is challenging. Since ICH recurrence may be life-threatening, patients who experience an ICH are often not treated with OACs, and thus remain at a higher risk of thromboembolic events. It is worthy of mention that subjects with a recent ICH and AF have been scarcely enrolled in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on ischemic stroke risk management in AF. Nevertheless, in observational studies, stroke incidence and mortality of patients with AF who survived ICH had been shown to be significantly reduced among those treated with OACs. However, the risk of hemorrhagic events, including recurrent ICH, was not necessarily increased, especially in patients with post-traumatic ICH. The optimal timing of anticoagulation initiation or restarting after an ICH in AF patients is also largely debated. Finally, the left atrial appendage occlusion option should be evaluated in AF patients with a very high risk of recurrent ICH. Overall, an interdisciplinary unit consisting of cardiologists, neurologists, neuroradiologists, neurosurgeons, patients, and their families should be involved in management decisions. According to available evidence, this review outlines the most appropriate anticoagulation strategies after an ICH that should be adopted to treat this neglected subset of patients.

Risk and Management of Bleeding Complications with Direct Oral Anticoagulants in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation and Venous Thromboembolism: a Narrative Review

Atrial fibrillation (AF) and venous thromboembolism (VTE) are highly prevalent conditions with a significant healthcare burden, and represent the main indications for anticoagulation. Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) are the first choice treatment of AF/VTE, and have become the most prescribed class of anticoagulants globally, overtaking vitamin K antagonists (VKAs). Compared to VKAs, DOACs have a similar or better efficacy/safety profile, with reduced risk of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), while the risk of major bleeding and other bleeding harms may vary depending on the type of DOAC. We have critically reviewed available evidence from randomized controlled trials and observational studies regarding the risk of bleeding complications of DOACs compared to VKAs in patients with AF and VTE. Special patient populations (e.g., elderly, extreme body weights, chronic kidney disease) have specifically been addressed. Management of bleeding complications and possible resumption of anticoagulation, in particular after ICH and gastrointestinal bleeding, are also discussed. Finally, some suggestions are provided to choose the optimal DOAC to minimize adverse events according to individual patient characteristics and bleeding risk.

Evaluation of Direct Oral Anticoagulant Reversal Agents in Intracranial Hemorrhage: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

IMPORTANCE

Direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC)-associated intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) has high morbidity and mortality. The safety and outcome data of DOAC reversal agents in ICH are limited.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the safety and outcomes of DOAC reversal agents among patients with ICH.

DATA SOURCES

PubMed, MEDLINE, The Cochrane Library, Embase, EBSCO, Web of Science, and CINAHL databases were searched from inception through April 29, 2022.

STUDY SELECTION

The eligibility criteria were (1) adult patients (age ≥18 years) with ICH receiving treatment with a DOAC, (2) reversal of DOAC, and (3) reported safety and anticoagulation reversal outcomes. All nonhuman studies and case reports, studies evaluating patients with ischemic stroke requiring anticoagulation reversal or different dosing regimens of DOAC reversal agents, and mixed study groups with DOAC and warfarin were excluded.

DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS

Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses guidelines were used for abstracting data and assessing data quality and validity. Two reviewers independently selected the studies and abstracted data. Data were pooled using the random-effects model.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

The primary outcome was proportion with anticoagulation reversed. The primary safety end points were all-cause mortality and thromboembolic events after the reversal agent.

RESULTS

A total of 36 studies met criteria for inclusion, with a total of 1832 patients (967 receiving 4-factor prothrombin complex concentrate [4F-PCC]; 525, andexanet alfa [AA]; 340, idarucizumab). The mean age was 76 (range, 68-83) years, and 57% were men. For 4F-PCC, anticoagulation reversal was 77% (95% CI, 72%-82%; I2 = 55%); all-cause mortality, 26% (95% CI, 20%-32%; I2 = 68%), and thromboembolic events, 8% (95% CI, 5%-12%; I2 = 41%). For AA, anticoagulation reversal was 75% (95% CI, 67%-81%; I2 = 48%); all-cause mortality, 24% (95% CI, 16%-34%; I2 = 73%), and thromboembolic events, 14% (95% CI, 10%-19%; I2 = 16%). Idarucizumab for reversal of dabigatran had an anticoagulation reversal rate of 82% (95% CI, 55%-95%; I2 = 41%), all-cause mortality, 11% (95% CI, 8%-15%, I2 = 0%), and thromboembolic events, 5% (95% CI, 3%-8%; I2 = 0%). A direct retrospective comparison of 4F-PCC and AA showed no differences in anticoagulation reversal, proportional mortality, or thromboembolic events.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

In the absence of randomized clinical comparison trials, the overall anticoagulation reversal, mortality, and thromboembolic event rates in this systematic review and meta-analysis appeared similar among available DOAC reversal agents for managing ICH. Cost, institutional formulary status, and availability may restrict reversal agent choice, particularly in small community hospitals.

A proposal for managing bleeding in patients on therapeutic factor XI(a) inhibitors

Several drugs that reduce functional levels of the plasma protease zymogen factor XI (FXI), or that inhibit its activated form (FXIa), are being evaluated as treatments to prevent thrombosis. Based on the observation that individuals with inherited FXI deficiency have a relatively mild bleeding disorder, it is anticipated that therapeutic FXI(a) inhibitors will have a smaller impact on hemostasis than anticoagulants targeting thrombin or factor Xa. However, even if FXI(a) inhibitors are determined to be safer than currently used anticoagulants, some patients on these drugs will experience abnormal bleeding or require emergent surgery. Strategies for dealing with such situations are required. Treatment with antifibrinolytic agents and low doses of recombinant factor VIIa effectively prevent abnormal bleeding in FXI-deficient patients with alloantibody inhibitors to FXI who undergo surgery. We propose that a similar strategy can be used for patients on therapeutic FXI(a) inhibitors who are bleeding or require invasive procedures.