Association Between Argatroban and Outcomes of Branch Atheromatous Disease: A Propensity‐Matched Analysis From MRI‐Based Study
PMCID: PMC12174617
PMID: 40530546
DOI: 10.1111/cns.70467
Journal: CNS neuroscience & therapeutics
Publication Date: 2025-6-17
Authors: Li S, Hu H, Zhou Y, Zhang P, Chen G, et al.
Key Points
- Argatroban did not significantly improve functional outcomes in patients with BAD-related stroke
- Excellent outcome rates were similar between argatroban (60.0%) and non-argatroban (64.2%) groups
- Clinicians should carefully reconsider argatroban use in BAD-related stroke patients due to lack of clear efficacy evidence
Summary
This multicenter, prospective cohort study investigated the efficacy of argatroban in patients with acute branch atheromatous disease (BAD)-related stroke across 20 hospitals in China. The research aimed to evaluate whether intravenous argatroban administration within 7 days of stroke onset could improve clinical outcomes, with the primary endpoint being an excellent outcome defined as a modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score of 0-1 at 90 days.
After propensity score matching, the study found no significant association between argatroban use and improved outcomes. The excellent outcome rates were 60.0% in the argatroban group versus 64.2% in the non-argatroban group (OR = 0.84, 95% CI: 0.47–1.49, p = 0.542). Sensitivity analyses consistently demonstrated no meaningful benefit across various subgroups, including patients with early neurological deterioration (END) and those receiving intravenous thrombolysis.