ESOC 2022 | The value of specific reversal agents in stroke management

Senta Frol, MD, PhD, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Slovenia, discusses the value of anticoagulation reversal agents in stroke clinical practice. Reversal agents can be used for patients receiving novel oral anticoagulants (NOACs), when rapid neutralization of the anticoagulant activity is required for emergency surgery or in uncontrolled bleeding. In this way, eligible anticoagulated patients who suffer an acute ischemic stroke can undergo thrombolysis, and mechanical thrombectomy in the case of large vessel occlusion; the same treatment standards used for non-anticoagulated individuals. In the case of NOAC-associated intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), rapid reversal has been shown to achieve a high degree of hemostatic efficacy and improve functional outcomes and mortality. This interview took place at European Stroke Organisation Conference 2022 in Lyon, France.