Resumption of anticoagulation therapy after spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage with patients mechanical heart valves

BACKGROUND: Patients with mechanical heart valves are usually maintained on anticoagulation therapy. However, after a spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage event, administration of anticoagulants is temporarily ceased, and it remains unclear when to restart anticoagulation therapy. METHODS: A cohort study was conducted to investigate the optimal time for restarting anticoagulation in patients with mechanical heart valves after spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage. All patients with mechanical valves who experienced spontaneous cerebral hemorrhage and were admitted to the Second Affiliated Hospital of the Zhejiang University Medical School between 2013 and 2018 were retrospectively enrolled in this study. The patient electronic medical records were reviewed and the correlation between the time of restarting anticoagulation (within 3 days or more than 3 days after hemorrhage) and patient prognosis was assessed. RESULTS: A total of 40 patients with mechanical heart valves who experienced spontaneous cerebral hemorrhage were enrolled in this study. All patients were given oral warfarin anticoagulant therapy prior to admission (1.5–3.25 mg). After admission, patients were administered fresh frozen plasma and/or vitamin K1 to reverse anticoagulation. Out of the 16 patients (40%) who underwent surgical intervention, 4 died from cerebral hemorrhage deterioration during the hospital stay and did not restart anticoagulant therapy. Anticoagulant therapy was resumed within 3 days for 18 patients and more than three days after hemorrhage for the other 18 patients. After discharge, patients were followed up for 12 months or more. Unfortunately, during this period, 17% of patients (6/36) died. CONCLUSIONS: Definitive hemostatic measures can be as an important factor in the clinical resumption of anticoagulation. Halting anticoagulant therapy for 3 to 7 days may be safe. It is recommended that low molecular heparin be administered within 3 days as a bridge treatment, combine with warfarin anticoagulant therapy within 1 week after hemorrhage.