title: Bootstrap statistics of ECASS II data: just another post hoc analysis of a negative stroke trial?
abstract: The results of the Second European-Australasian Acute Stroke Study (ECASS II) were negative with respect to the primary endpoint. This post hoc analysis of ECASS II data was designed to make the least number of a priori assumptions. This is accomplished by a bootstrap-based hypothesis test on a non-parametric test statistic. No assumptions are made on shape or variance of population distributions and the method does not suffer from the disadvantages of dichotomization. By reducing the number of a priori assumptions, the possibilities to modify the test result by adjusting the test procedure are minimized.
  
  
  RESULTS
  If rt-PA does not improve the outcome (null hypothesis), the probability of observing a difference of modified ranking scale equal or larger than the one observed in ECASS II is 0.047. We therefore rejected the null hypothesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Heidelberg, Germany. j62@ix.urz.uni-heidelberg.de
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Stingele
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bluhmki
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hacke
mesh_terms: D018849:Controlled Clinical Trials as Topic; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D012107:Research Design; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D020521:Stroke / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator