Become a member
Quick Registration
Full Registration Benefits -
Free Homepages for Doctors
Free Homepages for Hospitals
Free Homepages for Medical Conference
Free Homepages for NGO's
Personal Health Record Creation
Access to all Medical Slides
Access to all Jobs & Products Sale
Clopidogrel Plus Aspirin Combination Not Preferred in Lacunar Infarcts | |
|
| |
 |  |  | Comments |  |
 |  |
 |
 |
 |  |
 |
 Text  |
Addition of clopidogrel to aspirin does not significantly reduce the
risk of recurrent strokes in patients with lacunar infarcts; in fact it
increases the chances of bleeding, according to a recent study published in the
New England Journal of Medicine.
Lacunar infarcts are strokes in the brain caused due to a block in small arteries referred to as cerebral penetrating arteries. Aspirin is a standard antiplatelet drug used in patients with lacunar infarcts to prevent recurrent strokes.
The Secondary Prevention of Small Subcortical Strokes (SPS3) trial was conducted in North America, Latin America, and Spain; one part of the trial aimed to study the antiplatelet effect of aspirin as compared to aspirin plus clopidogrel in patients with lacunar infarcts in reducing stroke recurrence.
The 3020 patients included in the study were 30 years or older who had suffered from a symptomatic lacunar stroke diagnosed by MRI within the previous 6 months but at least more than 2 weeks prior to enrollment in the study. Out of these, 1503 patients received aspirin, whereas the remaining received aspirin plus clopidogrel. The patients were followed up for a mean of 3.4 years.
This part of the trial evaluating antiplatelet medications was terminated 10 months before the planned end date. This was due to the lack of benefit and the excessive harm caused by the combination.
The researchers found that the risk of recurrent stroke was not significantly different in the two groups, irrespective if the patient received additional clopidogrel or not. In addition, patients receiving the two drugs had a higher incidence of bleeding in the brain. The number of deaths was also higher in patients receiving two antiplatelet drugs. The number of patients who died due to bleeding was 9 in the group that received 2 antiplatelet drugs as compared to 4 in the group that received only aspirin. Major bleeding incidences were almost double in the patients who received two drugs.
The rate of recurrent lacunar infarcts was not reduced in the group receiving additional clopidogrel (67 cases in the aspirin alone group as compared to 66 in the other group).
The addition of clopidogrel to aspirin thus does not appear to provide additional benefits in terms of prevention of stroke recurrence in patients of lacunar infarcts. On the contrary, it is associated with a higher incidence of bleeding, which could be fatal.
Reference:
Effects of Clopidogrel Added to Aspirin in Patients with Recent Lacunar Stroke; The SPS3 Investigators; N Engl J Med 2012; 367:817-825
Source-Medindia
| |
|
|
More News on: Chemotherapy, Chemotherapy Drugs, Anticoagulants, Healthy Living, Reyes Syndrome, Colon Polyps
 Comment & Contribute
|
Related Links
Omission of Aspirin from Antiplatelet Regimen is Safe, WOEST Study Reveals
Lifelong anticoagulation is necessary for the prevention of stroke in patients with rhythm disturbances and with mechanical valves. For the first ...
Acute evaluation and management of ischemic stroke-1 - Aspirin
Distance Education for Acute evaluation and management of ischemic ...
Meprobamate and Aspirin
This combination medication contains a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) and an anxiolytic, prescribed for pain with anxiety or tension ...
Health In Focus News
Anemia is Frequent in Indigenous Children of Brazil
Anemia is the most common nutritional deficiency across the globe especially in children and women of reproductive age. It occurs when there is ...
Stress May Cause Permanent Damage to Sperms
The ill-effects of stress are well known today, thanks to the media and internet. They are responsible for providing a huge web of health-related ...
Working Women at Higher Risk of Breast Cancer
Professional women are at 70 percent higher risk of developing breast cancer than other women, finds a new study. Increased stress at ...
Early Puberty May Be Caused by Gene Mutation
A new study, conducted by a team of researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital, shed light on how gene mutation may play a role in causing ...
World Blood Donor Day 2013 - 'Give the Gift of Life: Donate Blood'
June 14, 2013 will herald the tenth anniversary celebration of World Blood Donor Day (WBDD) with a global focus on the theme "Give the ...
Smartphones and Tablets the Main Reason Behind Irregular Sleep Patterns
While everyone is obsessed about the launch of new Samsung Galaxy smartphones and iPhones, scientists have something different to tell. ...
- Health News Index
- News Quick Links
 | News Central | | Health Watch | |
| Latest Health News | | Health In Focus | |
| News Category (500+) | | Breaking Health News | |
| Popular News | | Celebrating Life | |
| Health News and Press Release | | Medindia - Exclusive | |
| News Photo Gallery | | India Special | |
| News Video Gallery | | Lifestyle and Wellness | |
| News From Other Resources | |||
| News Categories: |
| » | You Need Insurance Answers Some States Help by Making It Simpler |
| » | Healthcare Cuts in Spain Poses Serious Risk to the Health of Its Citizens |
| » | Study Shows Irregular Heartbeat Risk in Endurance Skiers |
| » | Schools in Indiana Have to Decide Between Insurance for Part Timers or Reduce Working Hours |
| » | Brokers for Health Insurance Companies Draw Back from State Set Rates |
| More Insurance News | |
|
Ask an Expert
