Atrial fibrillation and stroke: the view from neurology

In summary NVAF is an important risk factor for stroke identifying a population at a six fold increased stroke risk. When stroke occurs it tends to be large and without a preceding TIA. These patients commonly have other cardiovascular disorders that must be considered as a potential cause of brain ischemia. The appropriate management of these patients to prevent cardioembolic stroke is unknown and must be individualized pending appropriate clinical trials. Following a cardioembolic stroke anticoagulation should be considered only in patients with small or moderate sized infarcts who have no evidence of hemorrhagic infarction on a CT scan and delayed until 36-48 hours post stroke onset.