Low NOAC plasma levels linked with increased stroke severity
People with low anticoagulant levels were more likely to have a stroke rather than a TIA
Patients with atrial fibrillation taking non-vitamin K oral anticoagulants (NOACs) who are unlucky enough to develop cerebral ischaemia will likely face a more severe stroke if their plasma NOAC levels are low, a study shows.
Among 177 people presenting to the university medical centre at Erlangen, Germany, with cerebral ischaemia, those who had low plasma NOAC levels were classified as worse on admission compared to those with high levels (8 vs 3 on the National Institute of Health Stroke Scale).
