European Stroke Prevention Study-2 results: serendipitous demonstration of neuroprotection induced by endogenous adenosine accumulation?
In patients with prior stroke or transient ischaemic attack, anti-platelet treatment with dipyridamole substantially reduced stroke recurrence, with a beneficial effect comparable to and additive with that induced by aspirin (the European Stroke Prevention Study-2). Eugenio Picano and Maria Abbracchio present here a platelet-independent hypothesis, according to which cardiovascular and neuroprotective actions achieved by dipyridamole through chronic elevation of endogenous adenosine levels may have contributed to the therapeutic success of this study.
Picano
E
E
Italian National Research Council CNR, Institute of Clinical Physiology, Pisa, Italy.
Abbracchio
M P
MP
D000241:Adenosine / Q000378:metabolism*; D001241:Aspirin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001812:Blood-Brain Barrier; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004176:Dipyridamole / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006801:Humans; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010919:Placebos; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D010919:Placebos; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D004176:Dipyridamole; D000241:Adenosine; D001241:Aspirin