What are the treatment options for patients with ischemic stroke or TIA and mechanical heart valves?
In patients with ischemic stroke or TIA and mechanical heart valves, treatment with higher-intensity warfarin to achieve an INR of 3.0 (range, 2.5 3.5) or the addition of aspirin (75 100 mg/d) can be beneficial to reduce the risk of thromboembolic events. Treatment with dabigatran, however, causes harm.466,467