Background: The benefits of heparization during mechanical thrombectomy (MT) with newer generation thrombectomy devices, and if it is counterbalanced by the increased risk of intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) remain unknown. Methods: We included eligible patients who underwent MT from the ANGEL registry study (2015-2017) in China. Subjects in the current analysis were dichotomized into two groups according to whether adequate heparinization during MT was performed. In the heparinization group, unfractionated heparin was infused at 50-100 IU/Kg at first and additional 1,000 IU at intervals of an hour during the operation. Safety outcomes (symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage [sICH], ICH and distal embolization) and efficacy outcomes (artery recanalization and functional outcomes at 3-month follow-up) were compared between groups. Results: We included 619 patients from the entire cohort of 917 patients. The average age of them was 63.9 ± 13.7 years, 269 (43.5%) were treated with heparinization during MT. Heparinization during MT didnt significantly influence recanalization rates, total ICH and long-term mortality (adjusted p > 0.05 for all). But sICH and distal embolization occurred more frequently (9.3 vs. 5.1%, adjusted p = 0.02; 7.1 vs. 3.1%, adjusted p = 0.04, respectively), while functional independence appeared less likely (39.8 vs. 47.4%, adjusted p = 0.01) in heparinization group than that in non-heparinization group. Multivariable logistic regression analyses showed that heparinization during MT was an independent predictor for sICH (Odds ratio 2.36 [1.19-4.67], p = 0.01) in addition to cardio-embolism stroke and posterior circulation stroke (PCS), and an independent predictor for poor outcome (Odds ratio 1.79 [1.23-2.59], p < 0.01) besides age, bridging intravenous thrombolysis, admission NIHSS, drinking and PCS. Conclusion: Heparinization during MT may be associated with increased risk of safety outcomes over sICH and distal embolization, as well as efficacy outcomes over long-term poor outcome. Further randomized controlled trials are needed.

Objective

We compared the effect of clopidogrel plus aspirin vs aspirin alone on functional outcome and quality of life in the Clopidogrel in High-risk Patients with Acute Non-disabling Cerebrovascular Events (CHANCE) trial of aspirin-clopidogrel vs aspirin alone after acute minor stroke or TIA.

Methods

Participants were assessed at 90 days for functional outcome using the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) and quality of life using the EuroQol-5 Dimension (EQ-5D). Poor functional outcome was defined as mRS score of 2-6 at 90 days and poor quality of life as EQ-5D index score of 0.5 or less.

Results

Poor functional outcome occurred in 254 patients (9.9%) in the clopidogrel-aspirin group, as compared with 299 (11.6%) in the aspirin group (p = 0.046). Poor quality of life occurred in 142 (5.5%) in the clopidogrel-aspirin group and in 175 (6.8%) in the aspirin group (p = 0.06). Disabling stroke at 90 days occurred in 166 (6.5%) in the clopidogrel-aspirin group and in 219 (8.5%) in the aspirin group (p = 0.01). In stratified analysis by subsequent stroke, there was no difference in 90-day functional outcome and quality of life between the 2 groups.

Conclusions

In patients with minor stroke or TIA, the combination of clopidogrel and aspirin appears to be superior to aspirin alone in improving the 90-day functional outcome, and this is consistent with a reduction in the rate of disabling stroke in the dual antiplatelet arm.

Classification of evidence

This study provides Class II evidence that for patients with acute minor stroke or TIA, clopidogrel plus aspirin compared to aspirin alone improves 90-day functional outcome (absolute reduction of poor outcome 1.70%, 95% confidence interval 0.03%-3.42%).