Effects of clopidogrel added to aspirin in patients with recent lacunar stroke.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Lacunar infarcts are a frequent type of stroke caused mainly by cerebral small-vessel disease. The effectiveness of antiplatelet therapy for secondary prevention has not been defined.

Methods

We conducted a double-blind, multicenter trial involving 3020 patients with recent symptomatic lacunar infarcts identified by magnetic resonance imaging. Patients were randomly assigned to receive 75 mg of clopidogrel or placebo daily; patients in both groups received 325 mg of aspirin daily. The primary outcome was any recurrent stroke, including ischemic stroke and intracranial hemorrhage.

Results

The participants had a mean age of 63 years, and 63% were men. After a mean follow-up of 3.4 years, the risk of recurrent stroke was not significantly reduced with aspirin

SUBMITTER: SPS3 Investigators 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4067036 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature