Early versus Late initiation of direct oral Anticoagulants in post-ischaemic stroke patients with atrial fibrillatioN (ELAN): an international, multicentre, randomised-controlled, two-arm, assessor-blinded trial

Phase 1

• Conditions: Recurrent strokes in patients with atrial fibrillation who suffered an ischaemic stroke; Therapeutic area: Diseases [C] - Cardiovascular Diseases [C14]

• Registration Number: EUCTR2017-000236-34-PT
• Lead Sponsor: Inselspital (University Hospital) Bern

Brief Summary

Not available

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Results First Posted: 1900-01-01
• Study Start: 2020-08-25
• Study Completion: 2022-12-21
• Last Update Posted: 12 March 2024

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: ot Recruiting
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 2013

Inclusion Criteria

• Written informed consent
• Age: =18 years
• Acute ischaemic stroke, either confirmed by MRI or CT scan (tissue based definition) or by sudden focal neurological deficit of presumed ischaemic origin that persisted beyond 24 hours and otherwise normal non-contrast CT scan. Please note: prior intravenous or endovascular treatment is allowed.
• Permanent, persistent, or paroxysmal spontaneous AF previously known or diagnosed during the index hospitalization
• Agreement of treating physician to prescribe DOACs
Are the trial subjects under 18? no
Number of subjects for this age range:
F.1.2 Adults (18-64 years) yes
F.1.2.1 Number of subjects for this age range 500
F.1.3 Elderly (>=65 years) yes
F.1.3.1 Number of subjects for this age range 1500

Exclusion Criteria

• Atrial fibrillation due to reversible causes (e.g. thyrotoxicosis, pericarditis, recent surgery, myocardial infarct)
• Valvular disease requiring surgery
• Mechanical heart valve(s)
• Moderate or severe mitral stenosis. Please note that other valvular diseases and biological valves are eligible
• AF and conditions other than AF that require anticoagulation, including therapeutical dose of low-molecular-weight heparin or heparin. Please note: infratherapeutic anticoagulation at ischaemic stroke onset defined as follows is not an exclusion criteria:
o Vitamine K antagonist: International Normalized Ratio (INR) < 1.7
o Anti-IIa: thrombin time < 80 seconds and/or anti-IIa < 50 ng/ml
o Anti-Xa: anti-Xa < 50 ng/ml
• Subject who is contraindicated to DOACs
• Female who is pregnant or lactating or has a positive pregnancy test at time of admission
• Patients with serious bleeding in the last 6 months or at high risk of bleeding (e.g. active peptic ulcer disease, platelet count < 100’000/mm3 or haemoglobin < 10 g/dl or INR = 1.7, documented haemorrhagic tendencies or blood dyscrasias)
• Subject currently uses or has a recent history of illicit drug(s) or abuses alcohol (defined as regular or daily consumption of more than four alcoholic drinks per day)
• Severe comorbid condition with life expectancy < 6 months
• Severe or moderate renal insufficiency as defined by creatinine clearance < 50 ml/min
• Subject who requires haemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis
• Subject with aortic dissection
• Current participation in another investigational trial
• Dual antiplatelet therapy at baseline or strong likelihood to be treated with dual antiplatelet therapy during the course of the trial
• CT or MRI evidence of haemorrhage classified as PH1 (defined as parenchymal haemorrhage = blood clots in < 30% of the infarcted area without or with slight space-occupying effect) and PH2 (defined as blood clots in > 30% of the infarcted area with a substantial space-occupying effect) independently of clinical deterioration. Please note that HI1 (defined as haemorrhagic infarct = small petechiae along the margins of the infarct) and HI2 (defined as confluent petechiae within the infarcted area but no space occupying effect) are acceptable if not associated with clinical deterioration and if the treating physician feels comfortable to treat patients with DOACs.
• CT or MRI evidence of mass effect or intra-cranial tumour (except small meningioma)
• CT or MRI evidence of cerebral vasculitis
• Endocarditis
• Evidence of severe cerebral amyloid angiopathy if MRI scan performed

Study & Design

• Study Type: Interventional clinical trial of medicinal product
• Study Design: Not specified

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Main Objective: The main objective is to determine the net benefit of early versus late initiation of DOACs in patients with acute ischaemic stroke related to AF. Net benefit is estimated by a composite outcome that combines the outcomes of interest (recurrent ischaemic stroke and systemic embolism) to estimate efficacy and the bleeding outcomes of interest (intracerebral and extracranial major bleeding) as well as vascular death to estimate safety.;Secondary Objective: The secondary objectives are to assess all vascular events and all-cause mortality after early initiation of DOACs in patients with acute ischaemic stroke related to AF compared to late initiation.;Primary end point(s): The primary outcome is the composite of major bleeding, recurrent ischaemic stroke, systemic embolism and/or vascular death at 30 ± 3 days after randomisation.;Timepoint(s) of evaluation of this end point: 30 ± 3 days after randomisation.