Clomethiazole Acute Stroke Study in Ischemic Stroke (CLASS-I)

Abstract
Background and Purpose— A previous trial (the Clomethiazole Acute Stroke Study) generated the hypothesis that clomethiazole is effective in patients with a major ischemic stroke (total anterior circulation syndrome), and this was tested in the present study. Methods— A total of 1198 patients with major ischemic stroke and a combination of limb weakness, higher cortical dysfunction, and visual field deficits were randomly assigned to clomethiazole (68 mg/kg IV over 24 hours) or placebo. The study drug was initiated within 12 hours of symptom onset. Functional outcome and neurological recovery were assessed at days 7, 30, and 90, with the proportion of patients with a Barthel Index ≥60 at last follow-up as the primary outcome measure. Results— The patients were randomly assigned equally, and the two treatment groups were well matched for baseline characteristics, including stroke severity (mean National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score 16.9±5.2). Ninety-six percent were classified as total anterior c...