Antiplatelet drug discontinuation is a risk factor for ischemic stroke

Neurology. 2004 Apr 13;62(7):1187-9. doi: 10.1212/01.wnl.0000118288.04483.02.

Abstract

Antiplatelet drugs (APD) are widely used in the prevention of ischemic cardio- and cerebrovascular diseases. The authors studied the frequency of stroke occurring after APD discontinuation, the cause of discontinuation, and the delay between APD disruption and stroke. Only 4.49% of strokes were related to a recent APD discontinuation, but all cases occurred between 6 and 10 days after drug discontinuation (p < 0.0001). This temporal pattern has biologic plausibility because the inhibited platelets circulate in the blood for about 10 days.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Brain Ischemia / chemically induced*
  • Brain Ischemia / epidemiology*
  • Causality
  • Cerebral Hemorrhage / chemically induced
  • Cerebral Hemorrhage / epidemiology
  • Cohort Studies
  • Comorbidity
  • Female
  • France / epidemiology
  • Humans
  • Ischemic Attack, Transient / chemically induced
  • Ischemic Attack, Transient / epidemiology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / adverse effects*
  • Prospective Studies
  • Risk Factors
  • Stroke / chemically induced*
  • Stroke / epidemiology*
  • Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / epidemiology*
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors