Revascularization for acute ischemic stroke is safe for rivaroxaban users.

Background: The safety of recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) and/or endovascular therapy for patients using the novel oral anticoagulant (NOAC) for atrial fibrillation remains unclear.

Methods: We report a patient who was treated by both rt-PA and endovascular thrombectomy who suffered from acute ischemic stroke under treatment with NOAC.

Results: An 83-year-old woman had a medical history with ischemic stroke due to paroxysmal atrial fibrillation and was then administered 10 mg of rivaroxaban daily. Although she took rivaroxaban in the morning, ischemic stroke recurred at midnight of that day. Soon after transferring to our hospital, we confirmed right middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion in the patient and then initiated treatment with intravenous rt-PA. Although no hemorrhagic complication occurred, recovery of her symptoms was not seen, and endovascular thrombectomy was performed. Although the inferior branch of the MCA was recanalized, an infarct was seen in her left frontal lobe. Hemorrhagic transformation was not observed during or after these combined treatments.

Conclusions: Thrombolysis and/or endovascular thrombectomy might be safe for patients treated with the new anticoagulant rivaroxaban.