Desmopressin for Reversal of Antiplatelet Drugs in Stroke Due to Haemorrhage

Intracerebral haemorrhage is a medical emergency, caused by a blood vessel bleeding directly into the brain. Outcome is directly related to the amount of bleeding that occurs. Many patients die early and others are left with significant disability. A quarter of all people with intracerebral haemorrhage are taking an antiplatelet drug, which is associated with larger volumes of brain haemorrhage and significantly worse outcomes. Four to five million people are taking antiplatelet drugs in the UK and use continues to rise in an ageing population.

Despite advances in treatment of ischaemic stroke, there is no effective drug treatment for intracerebral haemorrhage. Treatment for intracerebral haemorrhage has been identified as a priority area by Stroke Association and stroke survivors.

Desmopressin is a drug that reverses blood thinning effects of antiplatelet drugs, by indirectly increasing platelet adhesion, which the investigators hypothesise will minimise the devastating consequences of intracerebral haemorrhage associated with antiplatelet drugs. Desmopressin is commonly used in patients with inherited platelet dysfunction disorders and is an appealing treatment for antiplatelet-associated intracerebral haemorrhage. A recent systematic review did not find any randomised controlled trials evaluating desmopressin for antiplatelet-associated intracerebral haemorrhage. Desmopressin is affordable, available and could be implemented clinically across the UK and worldwide in the next five years with immediate benefit for stroke patients, their families and society.

Inclusion criteria

• Adults (≥18 years)
• Confirmed intracerebral haemorrhage on imaging
• Less than 24 hours from onset of symptoms [or from when last seen free of stroke symptoms]
• Prescribed and thought to be taking a daily oral antiplatelet drug in the preceding seven days (cyclooxygenase inhibitors, phosphodiesterase inhibitors or P2Y12 inhibitors)
• Signed consent (or waiver of consent).

Exclusion criteria

• Aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage known at time of enrolment
• Haemorrhage suspected to be due to transformation of ischaemic stroke
• Haemorrhage known to be due to thrombolytic drug
• Haemorrhage known to be due to venous thrombosis
• Risk/s of fluid retention associated with desmopressin judged clinically significant by the attending physician (for example patients with pulmonary oedema and/or cardiac failure) - - Significant hypotension (systolic blood pressure <90mmHg)
• Known drug-eluting coronary artery stent in previous three months
• Allergy to desmopressin
• Pregnant or breast-feeding
• Life expectancy less than four hours, or planned for palliative care only
• Glasgow coma scale less than 5, mRS >4.