Treatment after transient ischemic attacks: a comparison between anticoagulant drug and inhibition of platelet aggregation.

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Treatment with an anticoagulant (AC) or acetylsalicylic acid (ASA), chosen at random, was given to 241 patients with symptoms of carotid transient attacks of ischemia, some of whom recovered completely within 24 h (TIA) while the others had slight residual symptoms (TIA-IR). Cerebral infarction was recorded in 4 patients in each of these treatment groups during a mean follow-up period of 20 mo. The incidences of TIA and TIA-IR were also similar in the 2 groups. Severe hemorrhage occurred more often in the AC group, whereas other side reactions, including gastrointestinal disorders, were more common in the ASA group. Recurrent cerebral ischemic events were significantly more common among the patients that had .gtoreq. 2 TIA in the 14 days immediately preceding randomization, and in those with a history of CVS symptoms > 14 days before randomization, or those with a carotid bruits. In the group experiencing .gtoreq. 2 TIA in the 14 days prior to randomization the incidence of recurrent cerebral ischemic events was the same for the 2 types of treatment.