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Techniques to predict - and in future prevent - brain haemorrhage in people treated with warfarin after stroke caused by atrial fibrillation

You might be given blood-thinning medications after you've had a stroke, to help you avoid another one. Or you might need blood-thinning medication if you have a health condition such as a heart problem or blood-clotting disorder which could lead to a stroke.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a type of irregular heartbeat that can cause blood clots to form in your heart. Having atrial fibrillation increases your risk of stroke by five times.

Information about atrial fibrillation for healthcare and other professionals. We have a number of resources available including guides and factsheets.

A stroke won’t just affect you, but everyone around you too. It can put a strain on your relationships and can also affect your sex life. But there are things you can do to help you cope with the impact.

This study will investigate whether early initiation of direct anticoagulant drugs will be as safe as later initiation in stroke patients with an abnormal heart rhythm (atrial fibrillation). It will also investigate whether early initiation could lead to fewer recurrent strokes.

An ischaemic stroke happens when a blood clot, or other blockage, cuts off the blood supply to your brain. This is the most common type of stroke.

The CROMIS-2 study investigated whether signs of small brain bleeds on routine brain scans can help us understand which ischaemic stroke patients with atrial fibrillation are at increased risk of a bleed in the brain when on anticoagulant ‘blood thinning’ drugs.

A haemorrhagic stroke is due to bleeding in or around the brain. While less common than strokes that are caused by a blockage, they can be much more serious.