OPTIMAS: OPtimal TIMing of Anticoagulation After Acute Ischaemic Stroke : a Randomised Controlled Trial (OPTIMAS)
Stroke, Acute, Atrial Fibrillation
About this trial
This is an interventional treatment trial for Stroke, Acute focused on measuring ischaemic stroke, atrial fibrilation
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
- Aged 18 years or over
- Clinical diagnosis of acute ischaemic stroke
AF, confirmed by any of:
- 12-lead ECG recording
- Inpatient ECG telemetry
- Other prolonged ECG monitoring technique (e.g. Holter monitor)
- Known diagnosis of atrial fibrillation verified by medical records (e.g. primary care records, letter from secondary care)
- Eligibility to commence DOAC in accordance with approved prescribing recommendations confirmed by treating physician
- Uncertainty on the part of the treating physician regarding early versus standard initiation of DOAC.
Exclusion Criteria:
Contraindication to anticoagulation:
- Coagulopathy or current or recent anticoagulation with vitamin K antagonist (VKA) leading to INR ≥1.7 at randomisation.
- Thrombocytopenia (platelets < 75 x 10⁹/L)
- Other coagulopathy or bleeding tendency (based on clinical history or laboratory parameters) judged to contraindicate anticoagulation by treating clinician
Contraindication to early anticoagulation
- Known presence of haemorrhagic transformation with parenchymal haematoma occupying >30% of the infarct volume and exerting significant mass effect (i.e. PH2) (NB: HI1, HI2 and PH1 are not considered contraindications)
- Presence of clinically significant intracranial haemorrhage unrelated to qualifying infarct
- Any other contraindication to early anticoagulation as judged by the treating clinician
Contraindication to use of DOAC:
- Known allergy or intolerance to both Factor Xa inhibitor and direct thrombin inhibitor
- Definite indication for VKA treatment e.g. mechanical heart valve, valvular AF, antiphospholipid syndrome
- Severe renal impairment with creatinine clearance (Cockcroft & Gault formula) <15 mL/min (i.e. 14 mL/min or less)
- Liver function tests ALT > 2x ULN
- Cirrhotic patients with Child Pugh score equating to grade B or C
Patient is taking medication with significant interaction with DOAC, including:
- Azole antifungals (e.g. ketoconazole, itraconazole)
- HIV protease inhibitors (e.g. ritonavir)
- Strong CYP3A4 inducers (e.g. rifampicin, phenytoin, carbamazepine, phenobarbital or St. John's Wort)
- Dronedarone
- Pregnant or breastfeeding women
- Presence on acute brain imaging of non-stroke pathology judged likely to explain clinical presentation (e.g. mass lesion, encephalitis)
- Inability for patient to be followed up within 90 days of trial entry
- Patient or representative refusal to consent to study procedures, including the site informing GP and healthcare professional responsible for anticoagulation care of participants
- Any other reason that the PI considers would make the patient unsuitable to enter OPTIMAS.
Note that current DOAC treatment is NOT an exclusion criterion, as long as the treating physician considers it appropriate to restart (or continue) according to the timings specified in the OPTIMAS trial protocol. Continuation of the DOAC would be recorded as a start time of zero hours.
Sites / Locations
- Bronglais General Hospital, Hywel Dda University Health BoardRecruiting
- Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation TrustRecruiting
- Queen Elizabeth Hospital,University Hospitals Birmingham NHS FoundationRecruiting
- Royal Bournemouth Hospital, Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustRecruiting
- Bradford Royal Infirmary, Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustRecruiting
- Broomfield Hospital, Mid Essex Hospital Services NHS TrustRecruiting
- West Suffolk Hospital, West Suffolk NHS Foundation TrustRecruiting
- Addenbrooke's Hospital NHS TrustRecruiting
- Glangwili General Hospita, Hywel Dda University Health BoardlRecruiting
- St Peter's Hospital, Ashford and St. Peter's Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustRecruiting
- Royal Derby Hospital, University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation TrustRecruiting
- Royal Devon & Exeter NHS Foundation TrustRecruiting
- Withybush General Hospital, Hywel Dda University Health BoardRecruiting
- Wycombe Hospital, Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS TrustRecruiting
- Queen Elizabeth Hospital Kings Lynn NHS TrustRecruiting
- Leicester Royal Infirmary, University Hospitals of Leicester NHS TrustRecruiting
- Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospitals NHS TrustRecruiting
- Prince Philip Hospital, Hywel Dda University Health BoardRecruiting
- The Royal London Hospital, Barts Health NHS TrustRecruiting
- Northwick Park Hospital, London North West Healthcare NHS TrustRecruiting
- University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustRecruiting
- St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustRecruiting
- Charing Cross Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare NHS TrustRecruiting
- Luton and Dunstable University Hospital NHS Foundation TrustRecruiting
- The James Cook University Hospital, South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustRecruiting
- Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation TrustRecruiting
- Nottingham University Hospitals NHS TrustRecruiting
- Derriford Hospital University Hospitals Plymouth NHS TrustRecruiting
- Poole Hospital NHS Foundation TrustRecruiting
- Royal Preston Hospital, Lancashire Teaching HospitalsRecruiting
- Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation TrustRecruiting
- Salford Royal Hospital, Salford Royal NHS Foundation TrustRecruiting
- Salisbury District Hospital, Salisbury NHS Foundation TrustRecruiting
- Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustRecruiting
- University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation TrustRecruiting
- Southend University Hospital NHS Foundation TrustRecruiting
- Kings Mill Hospital, Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustRecruiting
- Morriston Hospital, Swansea Bay University Health BoardRecruiting
- Torbay Hospital, Torbay and South Devon NHS FoundationRecruiting
- Arrowe Park Hospital, Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation TrustRecruiting
- Watford General Hospital, West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS TrustRecruiting
- Royal Hampshire County Hospital, Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustRecruiting
- Wrexham Maelor Hospital, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health BoardRecruiting
- York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation TrustRecruiting
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm 2
Experimental
Active Comparator
Early initiation of DOAC
Standard Initiation of DOAC
Early initiation of any direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) at a dose licensed for stroke prevention in AF, within four days (96hrs) of onset of acute ischaemic stroke
Standard initiation of any DOAC at a dose licensed for stroke prevention in AF, no sooner than day 7 and no later than day 14 after the onset of acute ischaemic stroke (i.e. between 144hrs and 336hrs from onset).