N ovel oral anticoagulants (NOACs) reduce incidence of stroke and intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation.1 Several studies demonstrated hematoma expansion in patients with ICH occurring during warfarin therapy and poor clinical outcomes.2 However, information regarding hematoma size, its expansion, and functional and vital outcomes of patients with ICH occurring during NOAC treatment have been limited and remain largely unclear.Cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) are said to be predictive of the occurrence of ICH or ischemic stroke 3 and to increase the risk of warfarin-associated ICH. 4 Furthermore, a considerable interest has been shown in association between CMBs and subsequent ICH in patients treated with NOACs. 5 In the present study, we investigated clinical and neuroradiological characteristics of patients with ICH occurring during NOAC treatment. MethodsFrom April 2011 through October 2013, 585 patients (342 men) with ICH were admitted to the Hirosaki Stroke and Rehabilitation Center for acute therapy <7 days after the onset (n=329) and for further rehabilitation therapy <60 days after the onset from other hospitals (n=256). Of all, 5 patients (1%) had ICH during NOAC treatment with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation, 56 (10%) during warfarin, and the other 524 (89%) during Background and Purpose-Neuroradiological characteristics and functional outcomes of patients with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) during novel oral anticoagulant treatment were not well defined. We examined these in comparison with those during warfarin treatment. Methods-The consecutive 585 patients with ICH admitted from April 2011 through October 2013 were retrospectively studied. Of all, 5 patients (1%) had ICH during rivaroxaban treatment, 56 (10%) during warfarin, and the other 524 (89%) during no anticoagulants. We focused on ICH during rivaroxaban and warfarin treatments and compared the clinical characteristics, neuroradiological findings, and functional outcomes. Results-Patients in the rivaroxaban group were all at high risk for major bleeding with hypertension, abnormal renal/ liver function, stroke, bleeding history or predisposition, labile international normalized ratio, elderly, drugs/alcohol concomitantly (HAS-BLED) score of 3 and higher rate of past history of ICH. Moreover, multiple cerebral microbleeds (≥4) were detected more frequently in rivaroxaban group than in warfarin (80% versus 29%; P=0.04). Hematoma volume in rivaroxaban group was markedly smaller than that in warfarin (median: 4 versus 11 mL; P=0.03). No patient in the rivaroxaban group had expansion of hematoma and surgical treatment. Rivaroxaban group showed lower modified Rankin Scale at discharge relative to warfarin, and the difference between modified Rankin Scale before admission and at discharge was smaller in rivaroxaban than in warfarin (median: 1 versus 3; P=0.047). No patient in the rivaroxaban group died during hospitalization, whereas 10 (18%) warfarin patients died. Conclusions-Rivaroxaban-associated ICH occur...

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BackgroundDepression after stroke is one of the most serious complications of stroke. Although many studies have shown that the length of hospital stay (LOHS) is a measurable and important stroke outcome, research has found limited evidence concerning the effect of depression on LOHS among patients who have experienced acute stroke. The objective of this study was to assess the effect of depression on LOHS among patients hospitalized for acute ischemic stroke in Japan.MethodsWe retrospectively examined 421 patients who had experienced acute ischemic stroke. Stroke severity was measured by the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) on the 7th day of hospitalization. On the 10th day of hospitalization, depressive symptoms and functional assessment were assessed by the Japan Stroke Scale (Depression Scale) and the Functional Independence Measure, respectively. A general linear model was employed to assess the effect of probable depression on LOHS.ResultsThe prevalence of probable depression in the current sample was 16.3% in males and 17.8% in females. The mean LOHS of participants with probable depression (76.4±49.2 days) was significantly longer than that of participants without probable depression (44.9±39.2 days). An analysis using the general linear model to assess the effect on LOHS revealed a significant interaction between the presence of probable depression and NIHSS scores.ConclusionDepression after stroke was associated with significant increases in LOHS. Early detection and treatment for depression are necessary for patients with ischemic stroke.

BackgroundApproximately one-third of stroke survivors suffer from post-stroke depression (PSD) in the acute or chronic stages. The presence of PSD in the acute stage after stroke is reportedly associated with poor patient prognosis; therefore, early recognition and treatment of PSD may alleviate these consequences. The aim of the current study was to examine the relationship between the lesion location and the presence of early depressive symptoms after acute ischemic stroke in Japanese patients.MethodsOur study included 421 patients who suffered from acute ischemic stroke. On the day of admission, the lesion location was determined using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Stroke severity was measured on the seventh day of hospitalization withat the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS). On the tenth day of hospitalization, depressive symptoms were measured and functional assessments were performed with the Japan Stroke Scale (Depression Scale) (JSS-D) and functional independence measure (FIM), respectively.ResultsA total of 71 subjects (16.9 %) were diagnosed with depression. According to the multiple logistic regression analysis, the infarcts located at frontal and temporal lobes were found to be a significant independent risk factor of early depressive symptoms in the acute stage of stroke.ConclusionsPatients suffering from acute ischemic stroke, particularly in the frontal and temporal lobes, should be carefully assessed to detect and treat early depressive symptoms; such treatment may improve patient outcomes.