ro-48-3657 and Stroke

Antiplatelet drugs have an established place in the prevention of vascular events in a variety of clinical conditions, such as myocardial infarction, stroke and cardiovascular death. Both European and American guidelines recommend the use of antiplatelet drugs in patients with established coronary heart disease and other atherosclerotic disease. In high-risk patients, such as those with post-acute myocardial infarction (AMI), ischaemic stroke or transient ischaemic attack, and in patients with stable or unstable angina, peripheral arterial occlusive disease or atrial fibrillation, antiplatelet treatment may reduce the risk of a serious cardiovascular event by approximately 25%, including reduction of non-fatal myocardial infarction by 1/6, non-fatal stroke by 1/4 and cardiovascular death by 1/6. Some data indicate that antiplatelet drugs may also have a role in primary prevention. In people who are aged over 65 years, or have hypertension, hypercholesterolaemia, diabetes, obesity or familial history of myocardial infarction at young age, aspirin may reduce both cardiovascular deaths and total cardiovascular events. Aspirin has been studied and used most extensively. It may exert its beneficial effect not only by acting on platelets, but also by other mechanisms, such as preventing thromboxane A2 (TXA2)-induced vasoconstriction or reducing inflammation. Indeed, experimental data show that low-dose aspirin may suppress vascular inflammation and thereby increase the stability of atherosclerotic plaque. Moreover, in human studies, aspirin seems to be most effective in those with elevated C-reactive protein levels. Vascular events, however, do occur despite aspirin administration. This may be due to platelet activation by pathways not blocked by aspirin, intake of drugs that interfere with aspirin effect or aspirin resistance. In the CAPRIE (Clopidogrel vs. Aspirin in Patients at Risk of Ischaemic Events) study, long-term clopidogrel administered to patients with atherosclerotic vascular disease was more effective than aspirin in reducing the combined risk of ischaemic stroke, myocardial infarction or vascular death. In the setting of coronary stenting, a double regimen including aspirin and ticlopidine or clopidogrel has proved more effective in the prevention of in-stent thrombosis than aspirin alone. Chronic oral administration of the inhibitors of platelet membrane receptor GP IIb/IIIa has been largely disappointing.

Topics: Aspirin; Benzamidines; Clopidogrel; Coronary Artery Disease; Humans; Myocardial Infarction; Oximes; Piperidines; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; Platelet Glycoprotein GPIIb-IIIa Complex; Pyridines; Stroke; Ticlopidine; Treatment Outcome

Topics: Abciximab; Antibodies, Monoclonal; Aspirin; Benzamidines; Clinical Trials as Topic; Clopidogrel; Coronary Disease; Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors; Diabetes Complications; Dipyridamole; Double-Blind Method; Drug Resistance; Drug Therapy, Combination; Endothelium, Vascular; Fibrinolytic Agents; Humans; Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments; Oximes; Piperidines; Platelet Aggregation; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; Platelet Glycoprotein GPIIb-IIIa Complex; Prospective Studies; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Stroke; Thrombosis; Thromboxane-A Synthase; Ticlopidine; Vasodilator Agents

Stroke is a rare but serious event that complicates the course of patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS). The type, outcome, and risk factors of stroke occurring in stabilized patients with ACS have not been previously reported.. We evaluated stroke incidence, subtypes, and outcomes, in addition to demographics and clinical risk characteristics associated with stroke among patients enrolled in the Sibrafiban versus Aspirin to Yield Maximum Protection from Ischemic Heart Events Post-acute Coronary Syndromes (SYMPHONY) and 2nd SYMPHONY trials.. Of 15,904 stabilized patients with ACS, 113 (0.71%) had a stroke over a median follow-up of 90 days. The majority of strokes occurred within 30 days of presentation, and the time course for stroke occurrence paralleled that of myocardial (re)infarction. Most strokes were ischemic (78%), and 52% resulted in moderate or severe disability or death. Patients with stroke were older and more often had hypertension, diabetes, peripheral vascular disease, and atrial fibrillation. Among patients with stroke who had cardiac catheterization, percutaneous coronary intervention, or coronary artery bypass grafting, stroke occurred predominantly after the procedure. No difference in occurrence or type of stroke was observed in the assigned treatment groups. In multivariable modeling age, heart failure, prior stroke, left bundle branch block, and systolic blood pressure predicted the occurrence of stroke.. In patients stabilized after presenting with a spectrum of ACS and treated with sibrafiban and/or aspirin, stroke occurred in fewer than 1% within 90 days but carried a significant mortality and morbidity risk.

Topics: Acute Disease; Aged; Angina, Unstable; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary; Aspirin; Coronary Artery Bypass; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Incidence; Male; Middle Aged; Myocardial Infarction; Oximes; Piperidines; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; Proportional Hazards Models; Recurrence; Risk Factors; Stroke