Contemporary Prestroke Dual Antiplatelet Use and Symptomatic Intracerebral Hemorrhage Risk After Thrombolysis

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Contemporary Prestroke Dual Antiplatelet Use and Symptomatic Intracerebral Hemorrhage Risk After Thrombolysis

Teng J. Peng, MD¹; Lee H. Schwamm, MD²; Gregg C. Fonarow, MD³; et al Ameer E. Hassan, DO⁴; Michelle Hill, MS, RN, AGCNS-BC, CNRN, SCRN⁵; Steven R. Messé, MD⁶; Fatima Coronado, MD, MPH⁷; Guido J. Falcone, MD, ScD²; Richa Sharma, MD, MPH²

Author Affiliations

JAMA Neurol. Published online May 20, 2024. doi:10.1001/jamaneurol.2024.1312

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• Editorial
  Symptomatic Hemorrhage Risks in Stroke Thrombolysis
  Shyam Prabhakaran, MD, MS; Jose G. Romano, MD
  JAMA Neurology

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Key Points

Question  Is prestroke antiplatelet therapy associated with an increased risk of symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (sICH) after treatment with intravenous alteplase?

Findings  In this cohort study of 321 819 patients from the Get With The Guidelines–Stroke registry, prestroke single and dual antiplatelet exposure was associated with an increased risk of sICH. There were no differences in rates of sICH or functional outcomes in aspirin-clopidogrel vs aspirin-ticagrelor groups.

Meaning  Prestroke dual antiplatelet therapy was associated with a significantly elevated risk of sICH, but the absolute increase in risk was small.

Abstract

Importance  Intravenous alteplase (IV-tPA) can be administered to patients with acute ischemic stroke but is associated with symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (sICH). It is unclear if patients taking prestroke dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) are at higher risk of sICH.

Objective  To determine the associated risk of sICH in patients taking prestroke dual antiplatelet therapy receiving alteplase for acute ischemic stroke using propensity score matching analysis.

Design, Setting, and Participants  This cohort study used data from the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association Get With The Guidelines–Stroke (GWTG-Stroke) registry between 2013 and 2021. Data were obtained from hospitals in the GWTG-Stroke registry. This study included patients hospitalized with acute ischemic stroke and treated with IV-tPA. Data were analyzed from January 2013 to December 2021.

Exposures  Prestroke DAPT before treatment with IV-tPA for acute ischemic stroke.

Main Outcome Measures  sICH, In-hospital death, discharge modified Rankin scale score, and other life-threatening systemic hemorrhages.

Results  Of 409 673 participants, 321 819 patients (mean [SD] age, 68.6 [15.1] years; 164 587 female [51.1%]) who were hospitalized with acute ischemic stroke and treated with IV-tPA were included in the analysis. The rate of sICH was 2.9% (5200 of 182 344), 3.8% (4457 of 117 670), and 4.1% (893 of 21 805) among patients treated with no antiplatelet therapy, single antiplatelet therapy (SAPT), and DAPT, respectively (P < .001). In adjusted analyses after propensity score subclassification, both SAPT (odds ratio [OR], 1.13; 95% CI, 1.07-1.19) and DAPT (OR, 1.28; 95% CI, 1.14-1.42) were associated with increased risks of sICH. Prestroke antiplatelet medications were associated with lower odds of discharge mRS score of 2 or less compared with no medication (SAPT OR, 0.92; 95% CI, 0.90-0.95; DAPT OR, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.88-0.98). Results of a subgroup analysis of patients taking DAPT exposed to aspirin-clopidogrel vs aspirin-ticagrelor combination therapy were not significant (OR, 1.35; 95% CI, 0.84-1.86).

Conclusions and Relevance  Prestroke DAPT was associated with a significantly elevated risk of sICH among patients with ischemic stroke who were treated with thrombolysis; however, the absolute increase in risk was small. Patients exposed to antiplatelet medications did not have excess sICH compared with landmark trials, which demonstrated overall clinical benefit of thrombolysis therapy for acute ischemic stroke.

• Editorial
  Symptomatic Hemorrhage Risks in Stroke Thrombolysis
  JAMA Neurology

Full Text