Expert Opinion on the Use of Novel Oral Anticoagulants for Stroke Prevention in Non-valvular Atrial Fibrillation for the Primary Care Setting in India: A Literature Review.

Atrial fibrillation (AF), the most prevalent cardiac arrhythmia encountered in clinical practice, is linked with substantial morbidity and mortality due to accompanying risk of stroke and thromboembolism. Patients with AF are at a five-fold higher risk of suffering from a stroke. Anticoagulation therapy, with either vitamin K antagonists or novel oral anticoagulants (NOACs), is a standard approach to reduce the risk.

New Onset Refractory Status Epilepticus as a Manifestation of Tuberculosis of the Central Nervous System.

A 28-year-old male presented to us with new onset refractory status epilepticus. Prior to his seizures, he had a history of fever, headache and blurring of vision, for which he was admitted elsewhere. No cause was found; he was treated symptomatically and was discharged as his symptoms had abated.

The Indian consensus guidance on stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation: An emphasis on practical use of nonvitamin K oral anticoagulants.

The last ten years have seen rapid strides in the evolution of nonvitamin K oral anticoagulants (NOACs) for stroke prevention in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). For the preparation of this consensus, a comprehensive literature search was performed and data on available trials, subpopulation analyses, and case reports were analyzed. This Indian consensus document intends to provide guidance on selecting the right NOAC for the right patients by formulating expert opinions based on the available trials and Asian/Indian subpopulation analyses of these trials.

Effects of thrombolysis for acute stroke in patients with pre-existing disability.

Background: Thrombolysis for acute stroke is beneficial in selected patients. Because clinical trials generally exclude patients with pre-existing disability, this subgroup of patients has not been studied. We examined the outcomes after thrombolysis of patients with and without disability before their stroke.

Extending tissue plasminogen activator use to community and rural stroke patients.

Background And Purpose: Guidelines for intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) use in stroke emphasize the importance of limiting its use to facilities with imaging capabilities and stroke expertise. This prospective case series set out to evaluate the safety of tPA use in patients referred from rural communities to a tertiary center.

Methods: Prospective data of 82 consecutive patients treated with tPA in London, Ontario, were reviewed.