Rapid decline of cerebral microemboli of arterial origin after intravenous acetylsalicylic acid.
OBJECTIVE
The present study investigated the influence of the antiplatelet agent acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) on cerebral microembolism as detected by transcranial Doppler sonography (TCD).


METHODS
Nine patients with recent transient ischemic attack or minor stroke of arterial origin were investigated. Eight had not received an antiplatelet or anticoagulant medication before TCD, and in 1 patient a preexisting ASA medication (100 mg/d) had not been changed since the onset of stroke symptoms. An initial 1-hour TCD monitoring was extended for an additional 2.5 hours after an intravenous bolus injection of 500 mg ASA and was repeated for 1 hour on the following day.


RESULTS
Microembolic signals (MES) were detected in all patients only on the symptomatic side. After the ASA bolus injection, a significant drop of the MES rate was found in 7 patients, all without previous medication, starting 30 minutes after the application (mean per hour=25.1 [range, 6 to 66] versus mean per hour=6.4 [range, 0 to 14]). In 3 of these patients, platelet aggregation tests were performed that demonstrated normal aggregation before bolus injection and inhibited aggregability as early as 30 minutes after bolus injection. The rate of MES remained unchanged in 1 patient without antiplatelet medication. The ninth patient, who had suffered an ischemic event on ASA, showed only a transient decrease of MES frequency.


CONCLUSIONS
In patients with recent stroke of arterial origin, intravenous ASA can rapidly reduce cerebral microemboli as detected by TCD. Microemboli might be a useful parameter to monitor early effects of antiplatelet therapy.
Goertler
M
M
Department of Neurology, University of Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany. michael.goertler@medizin.uni-madgeburg.de
Baeumer
M
M
Kross
R
R
Blaser
T
T
Lutze
G
G
Jost
S
S
Wallesch
C W
CW
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001241:Aspirin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D002536:Cerebral Arteries / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D002542:Intracranial Embolism and Thrombosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002546:Ischemic Attack, Transient / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D008833:Microcirculation; D008875:Middle Aged; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler
D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D001241:Aspirin