[Does early high dosage dipyridamole in prevention of secondary stroke induce cardiac events?]
Author(s): Diener HC, Darius H, Bertrand-Hardy JM, Humphreys M
Affiliation(s): Klinik und Poliklinik fur Neurologie der Universitat Essen Hufelandstr. 55 45122 Essen, Germany. h.diener@uni-essen.de
Publication date & source: 2001-05, Z Kardiol., 90(5):348-51.
Publication type: Clinical Trial; Randomized Controlled Trial
In a post hoc analysis of the European Stroke Prevention Study 2 (ESPS2), we investigated whether dipyridamole given as antiplatelet drug in patients with TIA or stroke increases the risk of cardiac events. ESPS2 was a secondary prevention trial including 6602 patients with TIA or stroke. Patients were randomized into one of four treatment arms: 2 x 25 mg acetylsalicylic acid (ASA), 2 x 200 mg slow release dipyridamole (DP), the combination of DP and ASA and placebo. DP did not result in a higher number of cardiac events, e.g., angina pectoris, myocardial infarction or death. The combination of ASA plus DP was superior to either drug alone in the prevention of strokes.
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