The role of plasminogen activators in stroke treatment: fibrinolysis and beyond

The Lancet Neurology

This review describes the pathophysiological effects of plasminogen activators and how, in the future, their non-fibrinolytic functions could be used for the treatment of patients with acute ischaemic and haemorrhagic stroke.

Practice guide to dosing of direct acting oral anticoagulants in patients with renal impairment

Specialist Pharmacy Service

This paper, focusing on use of DOACs in patients with atrial fibrillation, discusses the debate regarding the dosing of DOACs in patients with renal impairment and offers some practical advice on selecting the dose in the clinical setting.

Management of life threatening bleeds from arteriovenous fistulae and grafts

NHS Improvement

Alert signposts providers to resources produced jointly by British Renal Society and Vascular Access Society of Britain and Ireland to help staff, carers and patients recognise warning signs. Providers are asked to ensure local guidance incorporates advice in these resources.

Percutaneous vascular interventions versus intravenous thrombolytic treatment for acute ischaemic stroke

Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews

Review (4 trials, n=450) found no RCT evidence that percutaneous vascular interventions are superior to intravenous thrombolytic treatment with respect to functional outcome. Quality of evidence was low (outcome assessment was blinded but not treating physician/participants).

Performance of the ABC Scores for Assessing the Risk of Stroke or Systemic Embolism and Bleeding in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation in ENGAGE AF-TIMI 48

Circulation

Paper reports that ABC-stroke and ABC-bleeding risk scores which comprise clinical variables and CV biomarkers to estimate risk of stroke/systemic embolic events and bleeding, respectively, were well-calibrated and outperformed the CHA2DS2-VASc and HAS-BLED scores, respectively.

Self‐poisoning with 60 tablets of Apixaban, a pharmacokinetics case report

British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology
Apixaban was eliminated following first order elimination with a calculated half‐life of 10.8 h. Anti‐Xa activity seems to be linearly related to concentration up to 4000 μg/ l. This report suggests use of activated charcoal should be effective up to 17 h after a massive intake.

The above records have been identified by UKMi and feature in the NICE Medicines Awareness Service. Further details on this service can be found at:

http://www.evidence.nhs.uk/about-evidence-services/content-and-sources/medicines-information/new-medicines-awareness-services