• Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University,Chengdu 610041,P.R.China;
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Objective To investigate the risk factors and the prevention and cure methods of ischemic stroke during low intensity anticoagulation therapy after mechanical heart valve replacement. Methods From March 2004 to July 2008,twentythree patients with ischemic stroke after mechanical heart valve replacement had been researched(ischemic stroke group). One hundred and twenty patients who had undergone mechanical heart valve replacement were randomly chosen in the same period as control group. Gender, age, the dose of warfarin , anticoagulation intensity(INR), INR review interval, left atrial diameter and heart rhythm were compared between the two groups, and the risk factors of ischemic stroke were analyzed by logistic regression analysis. Results (1) Patients in ischemic stroke group all discharged from hospital after treatment, and they were followed up for 1 month-3 years after discharged. All the patients’ neurological complications improved obviously, and no recurrent embolism and severe hemorrhage was found. (2) There was no statistical significance between two groups in gender, age and the dose of warfarin(P gt;0.05). (3) Nonconditional logistic regression analysis on influence factors showed that atrial fibrillation(P=0.000), left atrial enlargement(P=0.002), low anticoagulation intensity(P=0.012) and longtime INR review interval(P=0.047)were the risk factors of ischemic stroke during low intensity anticoagulation therapy after mechanical heart valve replacement. Conclusions (1)The prognosis of ischemic stroke during low intensity anticoagulation therapy after mechanical heart valve replacement is better than that of intracranial hemorrhage, and the occurrence of ischemic stroke is related to many risk factors. (2)The influences of risk factors should be minimized in order to avoid ischemic stroke. (3) Early low intensity anticoagulation therapy is safe and effective for patients with ischemic stroke after heart valve replacement.

Citation: YUAN Ye,DONG Li,ZHANG Taiming,et al .. Ischemic Stroke during Low Intensity Anticoagulation Therapy after Mechanical Heart Valve Replacement. Chinese Journal of Clinical Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, 2009, 16(3): 183-187. doi: Copy