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Review
. 2022 Jun 13;4(1):23.
doi: 10.1186/s42466-022-00188-7.

Antiplatelets or anticoagulants? Secondary prevention in cervical artery dissection: an updated meta-analysis

Ei Zune The  1   2   3 , Ne Naing Lin  4 , Ching Jocelyn Chan  5 , Jason Cher Wei Loon  5 , Benjamin Yong-Qiang Tan  6 , Chee Seong Raymond Seet  6 , Hock Luen Teoh  6 , Joy Vijayan  6 , Leong Litt Leonard Yeo  6
Affiliations
Review

Antiplatelets or anticoagulants? Secondary prevention in cervical artery dissection: an updated meta-analysis

Ei Zune The et al. Neurol Res Pract. .

Abstract

Background: Extracranial artery dissection involving either internal carotid artery or vertebral artery is a major cause of stroke in adults under 50 years of age. There is no conclusive evidence whether antiplatelets or anticoagulants are better suited in the treatment of extracranial artery dissection.

Objectives: To determine whether antiplatelets or anticoagulants have advantage over the other in the treatment of extracranial artery dissection for secondary prevention of recurrent ischemic events or death.

Methods: Present meta-analysis followed Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 statement. Database search was done in Medline, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) and ClinicalTrials.gov from inception to May 2021 using pre-defined search strategy. Additional studies were identified from reference lists from included studies, reviews and previous meta-analyses. Outcome measures were ischaemic stroke, ischaemic stroke or transient ischaemic attack (TIA), and death.

Results: Two RCTs and 64 observational studies were included in the meta-analysis. While the outcome measures of stroke, stroke or TIA and death were numerically higher with antiplatelet use, there were no statistically significant differences between antiplatelets and anticoagulants.

Conclusion: We found no significant difference between antiplatelet and anticoagulation treatment after extracranial artery dissection. The choice of treatment should be tailored to individual cases.

Keywords: Anticoagulants; Aspirin; Extracranial artery dissection; Internal carotid artery; Meta-analysis; Secondary prevention; Stroke; Vertebral artery.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Study flow chart
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Forest plot for ischaemic stroke outcome
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Forest plot for ischaemic stroke or TIA outcome
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Forest plot for death outcome
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Forest plot for ischaemic stroke outcome for RCTs
Fig. 6
Fig. 6
Forest plot for stroke or TIA outcome for RCTs
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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