A potential new blood thinning treatment to prevent strokes in patients with atrial fibrillation (a common form of irregular heartbeat) could have fewer dangerous side effects than the traditional treatment, warfarin. Research has found that the drug Rivaroxaban is less likely to cause bleeding in the brain.

The study found that the risk of a bleed in the brain is 2.2 per 100 people on Warfarin but only 1.7 per 100 people for those on Rivaroxaban.

Dr Sharlin Ahmed, Research Liaison Officer at The Stroke Association says, "Warfarin is often prescribed as a highly effective treatment to prevent strokes in patients with atrial fibrillation. However, as with all medications it carries side effects and in some patients it can increase the likelihood of bleeding in the brain, which can cause a different type of stroke.

"The results of this study provide a positive backing for Rivaroxaban and show that it is less likely to cause bleeding in the brain which is encouraging. We’re interested to see how this potential treatment progresses."

You can read more on this story on the Daily Express website.

The Stroke Association