A Recurrent Ischemic Stroke Stabilization after Using Non-Vitamin K Antagonist Oral Anticoagulant (NOAC)

Current stroke guidelines recommend the administration of non-vitamin-K-antagonist oral anticoagulant (NOAC) for the prevention of cardioembolic stroke induced by nonvalvular atrial fibrillation. We report a patient who suffered from recurrent posterior circulation strokes—occurring eight times in 4 months—even under adequate antiplatelet medication. Changing the medication from antiplatelet agents to NOAC stopped the stroke recurrence. We suggest that NOAC has a role in the prevention of recurrent stroke of undetermined etiology in the posterior circulation. J Korean Neurol Assoc 34(1):41-44, 2016