低强度华法林预防心房颤动并发脑栓塞临床分析

目的观察低强度华法林与阿司匹林预防非瓣膜病性心房颤动发生缺血性脑卒中的疗效和安全性。方法将确诊为非瓣膜病性心房颤动患者108例随机分为2组,华法林组口服华法林,使凝血酶原时间国际标准化比值（INR）维持在1.6～2.5,阿司匹林组口服阿司匹林肠溶片100mg/d。随访1a,观察2组缺血性脑卒中及全身出血情况的发病率。结果华法林组脑卒中年发生率1.85%,阿司匹林组脑卒中年发生率7.41%,2组比较差异有统计学意义（P〈0.05）。华法林组年发生出血11.11%,阿司匹林年发生出血9.26%,2组比较差异无统计学意义（P〉0.10）。结论低强度华法林预防非瓣膜病性心房颤动并发脑栓塞优于阿司匹林,安全有效。     

口服抗凝剂和射频消融对心房颤动患者认知功能的影响

目的 探讨抗凝药物和射频消融对无卒中病史的非瓣膜性心房颤动患者认知功能的影响.方法 收集2016年11月至2017年8月就诊于南昌大学第二附属医院的无卒中病史的非瓣膜性房颤患者115例,分为华法林组39例、达比加群组29例、射频消融组34例及对照组13例(未使用抗凝和射频消融治疗的患者).于入组时和随访6个月后通过蒙特...     

丁苯酞对华法林治疗心源性卒中患者抗凝作用的影响

目的 探讨心源性卒中患者使用丁苯酞对华法林抗凝作用的影响。 方法 前瞻性连续纳入成都医学院第一附属医院神经内科2019年6月—2021年12月期间收治的心源性卒中患者,患者入组后随机分为试验组（华法林+丁苯酞）和对照组（华法林）。监测两组患者的国际标准化比值（international standardized ratio,INR）变化情况并收集两组患者的临床资料,比较分析两组患者的INR达标时间、2周内达标率和90 d mRS评分的差异。 结果 本研究共纳入101例心源性卒中患者,试验组51例,对照组50例。两组基线数据（年龄、性别、用药前INR、收缩压和舒张压）差异无统计学意义,入院时试验组的NIHSS评分[10（3.0～15.0）分 vs. 0（0～6.5）分,P<0.001],溶栓率（27.5% vs. 8.0%,P=0.011）与取栓率（25.5% vs. 2.0%,P=0.001）均高于对照组。试验组INR 2周内达标率与对照组相比差异无统计学意义（43.1% vs. 44.0%,P=0.930）。试验组达标时间较对照组明显缩短[（6.50±2.41）d vs.（9.64±4.40）d,P=0.015]。试验组90 d mRS评分与对照组相比,差异无统计学意义[3（0.5～4.0）分 vs. 2（0～3.0）分,P=0.175]。 结论 丁苯酞联合华法林治疗心源性卒中可能缩短华法林的达标时间,需进一步的研究来验证,但对于INR的达标率和90 d mRS评分无影响。     

低强度抗凝联合双重抗血小板治疗对心房颤动患者冠脉支架术后脑卒中的预防效果

目的观察心房颤动患者冠脉支架术后低强度抗凝联合双重抗血小板治疗预防脑卒中的作用。方法选取164例因稳定性冠心病或急性冠脉综合征接受冠脉支架术的持续性或永久性房颤患者,分为低强度抗凝治疗组(LIA组,n=86,华法林剂量滴定至INR1.5~2.0)和常规抗凝治疗组(CIA组,n=78,华法林剂量滴定至INR 2.0~3.0),同时接受双重抗血小板治疗(阿司匹林100mg/d+氯吡格雷75mg/d),随访1a后比较组间脑卒中/短暂性脑缺血发作(TIA)或外周栓塞事件、出血事件和主要不良心脏事件(MACE)发生率。结果与CIA组相比,LIA组脑卒中/TIA或周围动脉栓塞事件和主要心脏不良事件发生率差异无统计学意义(P0.05),出血事件发生率明显降低(LIA组9.3%vs.CIA组15.4%,P0.05)。结论低抗凝强度华法林联合双重抗血小板治疗是房颤患者冠脉支架术后预防脑卒中安全有效的预防措施。     

非瓣膜病性心房纤颤及其合并脑栓塞患者的抗凝治疗

目的探讨非瓣膜病性心房纤颤(房颤)及其合并脑栓塞患者的抗凝治疗情况。方法采集2012年1月~2013年12月于苏州大学附属第二医院治疗的208例心源性脑栓塞患者的临床资料,对其中存活的164例非瓣膜病性房颤(包括华法林抗凝治疗34例,抗血小板治疗130例)以及另行采集的36例一级预防华法林抗凝治疗的非瓣膜病性房颤患者随访1年。分析70例华法林抗凝治疗患者的基本情况,并依据预防等级、年龄、国际标准化比值(INR)控制水平、1年内是否继发出血进行分组比较,并分析与稳态时华法林剂量相关的因素。结果 164例非瓣膜病性房颤合并脑栓塞患者中,华法林抗凝组患者年龄、入院NIHSS评分明显低于抗血小板组,INR、1年内颅内外出血发生率明显高于抗血小板组(均P0.05)。70例抗凝治疗患者中,与二级预防相比,一级预防的患者年龄、房颤患者口服抗凝药物出血评分(HAS-BLED评分)和1年停用华法林的比例明显降低,身高、体质量和华法林初始剂量明显增高(均P0.05);与65岁的患者相比,≥65岁患者的房颤患者脑卒中风险评分和HAS-BLED评分明显增高,华法林初始剂量和稳态华法林剂量明显降低(均P0.05);INR 1.5~2.0的与INR 2.1~3.0的患者临床资料比较,差异均无统计学意义(均P0.05);与1年内未继发出血的患者比较,1年内继发出血的患者入院NIHSS评分明显增高,初始INR水平明显降低(均P0.05)。稳态时华法林剂量与年龄呈负相关,与初始华法林剂量呈正相关(均P0.05)。结论对于非瓣膜病性房颤合并脑栓塞患者而言,华法林抗凝治疗较抗血小板治疗的出血风险高。对于华法林抗凝治疗的非瓣膜病性房颤患者而言,一级预防较二级预防的患者年龄更轻、服药依从性好;低抗凝强度(INR 1.5~2.0)与传统抗凝强度(INR 2.1~3.0)在降低脑卒中发生率、出血风险方面无明显差别;年龄较轻患者华法林初始剂量及稳态时剂量均较高,但脑卒中风险及出血风险较低。     

循证指南更新:非瓣膜性心房颤动的卒中预防美国神经病学学会指南制定分委会的报告

目的对美国神经病学学会在1998年发表的非瓣膜性房颤卒中(NVAF)预防策略的内容予以更新,包括对于不明原因的卒中,不同技术手段发现隐匿性NVAF如何?哪种治疗更能减少卒中风险且出血风险最小?方法系统文献回顾,改良的Delphi方法形成推荐。结果对于近期的隐源性卒中,心脏节律监测很可能会检出到隐匿的NVAF。对于NVAF患者,达比加群、利伐沙班和阿哌沙班抗凝预防卒中的效果至少与华法林相当,且颅内出血的风险低。三氟柳联合醋硝香豆醇可能比单用醋硝香豆醇更能降低卒中风险。氯吡格雷联合阿司匹林预防卒中的效果不及华法林,但颅内出血的风险低。与单用阿司匹林相比,氯吡格雷联合阿司匹林更能降低卒中风险,但会增加严重出血的风险。阿哌沙班比阿司匹林更能减少卒中风险,而出血风险相似。结论临床医师可对隐源性卒中患者进行门诊心脏节律监测以发现隐匿性NVAF(C级),必须常规地对有短暂性脑缺血发作(TIA)或卒中史的NVAF患者予以抗凝治疗(B级)。对于需要抗凝的NVAF患者应该慎重选择抗凝剂。     

不明原因栓塞性卒中的临床研究

目的 研究不明原因栓塞性卒中（embolic stroke of undetermined source,ESUS）住院患者的一般情况、 危险因素及治疗情况。 方法 检索2003年1月至2014年12月在北京安贞医院神经内科住院的急性缺血性卒中患者,筛选其中符 合ESUS诊断标准的为ESUS组,其他卒中亚型为对照组,比较两组间一般情况、危险因素及治疗情况。 结果 共检出初发急性缺血性卒中1296例,筛选完成诊断ESUS必须检查项目患者200例,其中ESUS占 46.5%（93/200例）,大动脉硬化性卒中26%（52/200例）,心源性卒中25%（50/200例）,腔隙性脑梗 死2.5%（5/200例）,隐源性卒中（cryptogenic stroke,CS）0例;ESUS患者卒中危险因素与对照组比较 基本一致;ESUS患者中94.6%（88/93例）在住院期间及出院后二级预防应用抗血小板治疗,而5.4% 患者（5/93例）因梗死后渗血未应用抗栓治疗,所有入选ESUS的患者均未使用华法林或新型口服抗 凝剂抗凝治疗。 结论 ESUS作为新的卒中亚型在临床工作中并不少见,临床应完善诊断ESUS所需的检查项目,提高 其诊断率,进一步细化卒中亚型,从而提供更有针对性的治疗。     

氯吡格雷在非心源性缺血性卒中二级预防中的疗效观察

目的 观察氯吡格雷和阿司匹林肠溶片在非心源性缺血性卒中二级预防中的疗效和安全性。方法 连续收集非心源性缺血性卒中患者并随机分为氯吡格雷组和阿司匹林组,每组55例患者,两组均给予卒中基础治疗。氯吡格雷组加用硫酸氢氯吡格雷口服,50 mg/d。阿司匹林组加用阿司匹林肠溶片口服,75 mg/d。随访1年内两组缺血性卒中复发率和药物不良反应发生率。结果 阿司匹林组卒中复发率为13.5%,而氯吡格雷组复发率为1.8%,差异有统计学意义（P =0.04）;阿司匹林组不良反应发生率为36.4%,氯吡格雷组不良反应发生率为5.5%,差异有统计学意义（P =0.001）。结论 氯吡格雷在非心源性缺血性卒中二级预防中的疗效优于阿司匹林,安全性较高。     

达比加群酯预防心房颤动患者发生脑梗死的临床疗效及安全性分析

目的探讨达比加群酯在预防非瓣膜性心房颤动(房颤)患者发生脑梗死的临床疗效及安全性。方法选取2014-01—2016-01在我院住院治疗的心房纤颤患者120例为研究对象,将所有患者随机分为对照组与试验组,每组60例,对照组口服华法林治疗,试验组口服达比加群酯治疗,对比2组3个月内的脑栓塞或血栓形成事件发生率、出血事件的发生率。结果 3个月内2组均未出现大出血、出血性脑卒中及死亡事件。达比加群酯与华法林对预防非瓣膜房颤患者脑卒中、栓塞或血栓形成事件的发生率相似,而出血发生率小于华法林(P0.05)。结论达比加群酯在预防脑卒中事件上与华法林相似,并不增加出血风险;且具有安全性好、使用简单、不需要频繁监测INR值等优点。     

脑卒中一级预防研究进展:综合中国学者在国外杂志的报道

中国研究者在过去两年有多篇脑卒中一级预防高质量研究成果发表在国外相关专业杂志上,内容涉及缺血性卒中一级预防现状、华法林治疗心房颤动、血管紧张素转换酶抑制剂和血管紧张素Ⅱ受体阻断剂与糖尿病患者预后的关系、补充维生素B以降低血浆同型半胱氨酸水平与脑血管病风险、非高密度脂蛋白胆固醇与无症状性颅内动脉狭窄的关系、气功预防脑卒中随机对照临床试验等,本文对上述研究进行简要概述。     

Stroke prevention in nonvalvular atrial fibrillation: a review of prospective randomized trials.

Patients with atrial fibrillation are at risk for cerebral embolism; however, the roles of chronic anticoagulation or antiplatelet therapy for stroke prevention in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation have been controversial. Recently, the results of three large prospective randomized trials that examined the risks and benefits of warfarin or aspirin for stroke prophylaxis in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation were reported. All three studies revealed a reduction in the stroke rate for patients treated with warfarin and a small incidence of major bleeding. One of the studies also reported a reduced stroke rate in aspirin-treated patients. The reduction of thromboembolic events associated with chronic warfarin therapy appears to outweigh the risks of significant bleeding for most patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation. Aspirin may offer an alternative for subgroups of patients who are at low risk for stroke or those who are not good candidates for anticoagulation.     

Selection of Oral Anticoagulants in Ischemic Stroke Patients with Nonvalvular Atrial Fibrillation

Background

Anticoagulant therapy is indicated for management of ischemic stroke patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation. We retrospectively investigated how oral anticoagulants were selected for ischemic stroke patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation.

左心耳封堵预防心房颤动患者卒中的研究进展

预防心房颤动患者发生卒中的常用方法包括抗凝药物（华法林、新型口服抗凝药物等）及 左心耳封堵（left atrial appendage occlusion,LAAO）治疗。近年来,一些研究表明LAAO在预防心房颤动 患者卒中方面,不劣于华法林治疗,甚至在某些研究中优于华法林治疗,而关于LAAO与新型口服抗凝 药对比的随机研究尚不充分。目前更新的文献提示,LAAO造成长期心房颤动患者相关门诊率和住院 率升高,且可能对心房颤动的发生及发展产生一定影响,引起一些争议。这提示在临床实践中,重要 的是严格把握手术适应证,综合长期获益与风险评估,准确判断适合进行LAAO的患者人群。     

Optimal INR for prevention of stroke and death in atrial fibrillation: a critical appraisal

INTRODUCTION: Patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation are at increased risk for systemic embolism, predominantly disabling stroke. To study how stroke and mortality rates vary with different degrees of anticoagulation reflected by the international normalised ratio (INR) we critically assess information from different sources. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 1. Computerized search of the medical literature published between 1980 and July 2004 was performed using MEDLINE applied to various combinations of the search terms of atrial fibrillation, warfarin, anticoagulation, anticoagulation intensity, and INR, not restricted by language. 2. We performed a record linkage analysis with death hazard estimated as a continuous function of INR based on 21,967 patients. Similarly the risk of admission to hospital or death due to diseases of the vessels of the brain was estimated. 3. Re-analysis of data earlier published by Hylek et al. from year 2003.RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: 1. One randomised study showed a significantly lower risk of stroke for mean INR 2.4 compared to mean INR 1.3 combined with aspirin. Remaining studies found INRs of 2-2.5 to be as efficacious as higher anticoagulation intensities.2. Mortality as well as risk of admission to hospital or death due to diseases of the vessels of the brain followed U-shaped curves with minimum at INR 2.2 and 2.4, respectively. At high INR the risk increased 2.3 times per 1 unit increase of INR for death and 1.7 times for events in the vessels of the brain.3. The re-analysing of data of Hylek et al. indicated that there might be a substantial increase of the risk of intracranial hemorrhage when INR is increased from 2.5 to 4.We conclude that INRs in the interval 2.0--2.5 give the lowest risk of stroke and death in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation.     

Effectiveness of Nonvitamin K Antagonist Oral Anticoagulants and Warfarin for Preventing Further Cerebral Microbleeds in Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients with Nonvalvular Atrial Fibrillation and At Least One Microbleed: CMB-NOW Multisite Pilot Trial

BackgroundNonvitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) are considered superior, or at least noninferior, to warfarin in preventing stroke or systemic embolism in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation. Here, we recruited acute ischemic stroke patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation and at least one cerebral microbleed (CMB), and evaluated the proportion of patients who had an increased number of CMBs (%) after receiving anticoagulant therapy with NOACs or with warfarin for 12 months.MethodsThis was a multicenter, prospective, observational cohort study at 20 centers, conducted between 2015 and 2017, in which we recruited 85 patients with at least one CMB detected by 1.5T magnetic resonance imaging (T2*WI) at baseline, who received NOACs or warfarin for at least 12 months. We compared the proportions of patients with increased numbers of CMBs in the NOACs and warfarin treatment groups.ResultsThe proportions of patients with increased numbers of CMBs at month 12 of treatment were 28.6% and 66.7% in the NOACs and warfarin groups, respectively. The new CMBs showed no specific regional localization in either group. In the NOACs and warfarin groups, physicians prescribed lower-than-standard dosing in 13.3% and 50% of the cases, respectively. The administration of reduced doses at physicians’ discretion did not appear to alter the incidence of new CMBs.DiscussionThis is the first evidence to suggest efficacy of NOACs for preventing further CMBs in patients with at least one CMB, although no statistical evaluation was carried out.     

心房颤动合并脑栓塞患者的抗凝治疗现状和出血转化分析

目的 通过充血性心力衰竭、高血压、年龄≥75岁（双倍）、糖尿病、卒中（双倍）、血管病变、年 龄65～74岁、女性（Congestive heart failure,Hypertension,Age≥75（doubled）,Diabetes Mellitus,Stroke （doubled）,vascular disease,age 65～74 and sex category（female）,CHA2DS2-VASc）评分观察心房颤 动合并脑栓塞患者的抗栓治疗现状,分析高血压、异常的肝肾功能、卒中、出血、国际标准化比 值（international normalized ratio,INR）不稳定、年龄、药物治疗或者饮酒（Hypertension,Abnormal renal and liver function,Stroke,Bleeding,Labile international normalized ratio,Elderly,Drugs and alcohol intake, HAS-BLED）评分及其他相关临床危险因素与心房颤动合并脑栓塞出血转化的关系。 方法 回顾性分析2012年5月至2014年12月在北京博爱医院神经康复科住院的心房颤动合并脑栓塞 患者的临床资料。根据CHA2DS2-VASc评分观察低危组（0分）、中危组（1分）、高危组（≥2分）的抗栓 治疗情况。根据HAS-BLED评分,分析心房颤动脑栓塞出血转化（hemorrhagic transformation,HT）率在 出血转化低危组（0～2分）和出血转化高危组（≥3分）之间的差异,同时对多个临床变量进行多因素 分析,寻找与HT相关的临床危险因素。 结果 研究共入组101例患者,患者在发生脑栓塞之前,根据CHA2DS2 -VASc评分,低危组抗凝率 66.7%（2/3）,无抗血小板治疗;中危组抗凝、抗血小板率均为16.7%（2/12）;高危组抗凝率19.8% （17/86）,抗血小板率14.0%（12/86）。脑栓塞前1个月内停用抗凝治疗而发病的占所有抗凝患者 42.8%（9/21）。发生脑栓塞之后,所有患者均为高危组,抗凝治疗率68.3%（69/101）,抗血小板 治疗率25.7%（26/101）。根据HAS-BLED评分,心房颤动合并脑栓塞后,出血转化高危组HT 58.5% （31/53）,与低危组HT 37.5%（18/48）比较,差异有显著性（χ 2=4.443,P =0.035）。对HT组与非HT 组的多个临床变量分析发现,两组美国国立卫生研究院（National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale, NIHSS）评分差异有显著性（14.860±4.486 vs 11.940±5.648,P =0.006）;HAS-BLED评分差异有显 著性（2.76±0.80 vs 2.21±0.96,P =0.003）;病灶范围大的梗死灶HT为57.9%（44/76）,小的梗 死灶为HT 20%（5/25）,两组有显著差异（P =0.001）。多因素Logistic回归分析发现NIHSS（OR 1.106, 95%CI 1.106～1.216,P =0.036）、病灶范围大小（OR 5.083,95%CI 1.826～14.148,P =0.002）和HASBLED 评分（OR 2.353,95%CI 1.326～4.175,P =0.003）均是心房颤动患者脑栓塞后HT的危险因素。 结论 心房颤动合并脑栓塞的患者抗栓治疗率不理想,HAS-BLED评分能很好地预测心房颤动合并 脑栓塞后的HT风险,另外,神经功能缺损较重、病灶范围大也是心房颤动合并脑栓塞患者发生HT的 危险因素。     

Coagulation factors and the increased risk of stroke in nonvalvular atrial fibrillation

We studied whether hemostatic abnormalities contribute to the increased risk of stroke in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation. Hemostatic function was studied in four age-matched groups: 20 patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation and a previous ischemic stroke, 20 patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation without a previous stroke, 20 stroke patients with sinus rhythm, and 40 healthy controls. Both groups with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation had significantly higher concentrations of von Willebrand factor, factor VIII:C, fibrinogen, D-dimer (a fibrinolytic product), beta-thromboglobulin, and platelet factor 4; a significantly higher fibrinogen/antithrombin ratio; and significantly higher spontaneous amidolytic activity than the healthy controls. Prekallikrein levels were significantly lower in both groups with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation. Stroke patients with sinus rhythm had normal hemostatic function, normal concentrations of platelet-related factors, and a slightly increased concentration of fibrinopeptide A compared with the healthy controls. Both groups with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation differed from the stroke patients with sinus rhythm as they did from the healthy controls. No difference in hemostatic function was seen between the nonvalvular atrial fibrillation patients with and without a previous ischemic stroke. Thus, alterations in hemostatic function may contribute to the increased risk of stroke in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation.     

Optimal intensity of warfarin therapy for secondary prevention of stroke in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation : a multicenter, prospective, randomized trial. Japanese Nonvalvular Atrial Fibrillation-Embolism Secondary Prevention Cooperative Study Group

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The optimal intensity of warfarin therapy for secondary prevention of stroke in nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) remains unclear. We studied the efficacy and safety of conventional- and low-intensity warfarin therapy in a prospective, randomized, multicenter trial. METHODS: The study population consisted of patients with NVAF (<80 years old) who had a stroke or transient ischemic attack. The patients were randomly allocated into a conventional-intensity group (international normalized ratio [INR] 2.2 to 3.5) and a low-intensity group (INR 1.5 to 2.1). They were carefully monitored, and the annual rate of recurrent ischemic stroke and major hemorrhagic complications were compared between the groups. RESULTS: We enrolled 115 patients (mean age 66.7+/-6.5 years) into the study. Fifty-five and 60 patients were allocated into the conventional- and low-intensity groups, respectively. The trial was stopped after a follow-up of 658+/-423 days, when major hemorrhagic complications occurred in 6 patients of the conventional-intensity group and the frequency (6.6% per year) was significantly higher than that in the low-intensity group (0% per year, P=0.01, Fisher's exact test). All of the 6 patients with major bleeding were elderly (mean age 74 years), and their mean INR before the major hemorrhage was 2.8. The annual rate of ischemic stroke was low in both groups (1.1% per year in the conventional-intensity group and 1.7% per year in the low-intensity groups) and did not differ significantly. CONCLUSIONS: For secondary prevention of stroke in persons with NVAF, especially in old patients, the low-intensity warfarin (INR 1.5 to 2. 1) treatment seems to be safer than the conventional-intensity (INR 2.2 to 3.5) treatment.     

体检人群新发脑出血相关危险因素分析——一项来自社区的观察性研究

目的分析我国北方体检人群中新发脑出血相关危险因素及特征。方法连续性纳入2006年6月-2007年10月开滦社区的体检者,基线期完善问卷调查、体格检查及实验室检查。每24个月对所有受检者进行一次面对面随访,截至2015年12月31日,记录所有受检者随访期间新发卒中事件类型及时间。将脑出血组和对照组的一般临床资料、既往病史、体检、实验室检查结果等进行比较,采用Cox比例风险回归模型评估新发脑出血的预测因子并进行分析。结果研究最终纳入受检者94 993例,随访期间发生卒中事件者3568例(3.8%),其中脑出血事件者746例(0.8%)。在脑出血患者中,男性、高龄、低收入、低学历、高BMI、高血压、糖尿病、脂代谢紊乱和心房颤动病史与对照组相比,差异具有统计学意义(P0.05)。校正相关因素后,高收缩压(HR1.026,95%CI 1.018~1.035,P0.0001)、高舒张压(HR 1.040,95%CI 1.026~1.055,P0.0001)与高血糖(HR 1.127,95%CI 1.046~1.215,P=0.0017)是新发脑出血事件的独立危险因素。结论男性、高龄、低收入、低学历、高BMI、脂代谢紊乱、高血压和糖尿病均可增加脑出血风险,其中高血压和高血糖水平是脑出血的独立危险因素。     

The morbidity related to atrial fibrillation at a tertiary centre in one year: 9.0% of all strokes are potentially preventable.

Atrial fibrillation is a major risk factor for stroke. Anticoagulant therapy reduces this risk but increases the risk of haemorrhage. We aimed to compare the morbidity related to the treatment of atrial fibrillation with warfarin seen in one year at our hospital, with the morbidity in those patients in whom embolism was potentially preventable. There were 111 patients admitted to our hospital in a 12 month period with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) who had stroke, TIA or peripheral embolism. Atrial fibrillation was identified prior to admission in 87 of these 111 (78%) patients with thromboembolism, yet only 14 of these (16%) were receiving warfarin for stroke prophylaxis. Through chart review, a further 56 (64%) patients with embolism could have been receiving anticoagulant therapy if published clinical guidelines(1) were applied. Therefore, 40 episodes of thromboembolism were potentially preventable. Over the same period, there were 18 patients admitted with haemorrhage related to warfarin therapy for stroke prophylaxis in NVAF, including 10 gastrointestinal, five intracerebral, and three peripheral haemorrhages. Most haemorrhages were associated with a high International Normalized Ratio (INR) and the patients were left less disabled than those with embolism. Only one patient with haemorrhage had an absolute contraindication to warfarin therapy (6%). We conclude that the number of preventable strokes far outweighed the morbidity due to warfarin use in the management of NVAF.