What is the efficacy and safety of anticoagulant treatment in acute cardioembolic stroke?
The efficacy and safety of anticoagulant treatment in acute cardioembolic stroke has been explored in several randomized controlled trials. A meta-analysis of these trials, published in the journal Stroke in 2007, found that anticoagulants reduced the risk of death and recurrent stroke compared to placebo or aspirin, and were generally well tolerated with few adverse events. Furthermore, a double-blind randomized study published in The Lancet in 2000 found that low-molecular-weight heparin was superior to aspirin in reducing the risk of early death and recurrent stroke in patients with acute ischemic stroke and atrial fibrillation.  