Journal article

Clopidogrel plus aspirin versus warfarin in patients with stroke and aortic arch plaques

P Amarenco, S Davis, EF Jones, AA Cohen, WD Heiss, M Kaste, C Laouénan, D Young, M Macleod, GA Donnan, CF Bladin, BR Chambers, J Frayne, GJ Hankey, CR Levi, SJ Read, P Ravaud, T Tatlisumak, L Soinne, M Laine Show all

Stroke | LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS | Published : 2014

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE-: Severe atherosclerosis in the aortic arch is associated with a high risk of recurrent vascular events, but the optimal antithrombotic strategy is unclear. METHODS-: This prospective randomized controlled, open-labeled trial, with blinded end point evaluation (PROBE design) tested superiority of aspirin 75 to 150 mg/d plus clopidogrel 75 mg/d (A+C) over warfarin therapy (international normalized ratio 2-3) in patients with ischemic stroke, transient ischemic attack, or peripheral embolism with plaque in the thoracic aorta >4 mm and no other identified embolic source. The primary end point included cerebral infarction, myocardial infarction, peripheral embolism, vascul..

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Grants

Awarded by French government


Funding Acknowledgements

This trial was supported by a research grant from the French government (Programme Hospitalier de Recherche Clinique: AOM-97211/P991205; Eudract: 2007-003644-30) and the Departement a la Recherche Clinique et au Developpement, Assistance Publique-Hopitaux de Paris, the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council, and supported by SOS-Attaque Cerebrale association. Sanofi and Bristol-Myers Squibb provided study drugs free of charge. Sanofi Australia provided a small, unrestricted arms-length grant to Aortic Arch Related Cerebral Hazard-Australia team. The investigators were fully responsible for the protocol design, conduct of the study, data collection, monitoring, data management, analysis and interpretation of the data, and writing of the article, without any pharmaceutical company involvement.