The European Stroke Prevention Study (ESPS). Principal end-points. The ESPS Group.
In a multicentre double-blind trial, 2500 patients with a clinical diagnosis of a recent cerebrovascular event of atherothrombotic origin (transient ischaemic attack, reversible ischaemic neurological deficit, or stroke) were randomised to receive either dipyridamole 75 mg plus acetylsalicylic acid 325 mg (DP-ASA, 1250 patients) or placebo (1250 patients) thrice daily. Follow-up was twenty-four months. On intention-to-treat analysis, 473 patients reached an end-point (stroke or death from any cause), 190 on DP-ASA and 283 on placebo. Survival curves for end-points showed 33% benefit in favour of the DP-ASA group (p less than 0.001). 108 patients died in the DP-ASA group and 156 in the placebo group (p less than 0.01). Results of an explanatory analysis were similar.
D000206:Actuarial Analysis; D001241:Aspirin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002214:Capsules; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004176:Dipyridamole / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011897:Random Allocation
D002214:Capsules; D004176:Dipyridamole; D001241:Aspirin