title: A comparative study of dual versus monoantiplatelet therapy in patients with acute large-artery atherosclerosis stroke.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Antiplatelet drugs are recommended for patients with acute noncardioembolic stroke. However, few randomized clinical trials have investigated the safety and efficacy of dual antiplatelet therapy for these patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of treatment with clopidogrel and aspirin (combination therapy) and aspirin alone (monotherapy) on neurologic deterioration, platelet activation, and other short-term outcomes in patients with acute large-artery atherosclerosis stroke.
  
  
  METHODS
  Altogether 574 patients with acute (≤2 days) large-artery atherosclerosis stroke were randomly assigned to receive either combined clopidogrel and aspirin or aspirin alone. Platelet aggregation and platelet-leukocyte aggregation studies were performed at days 1 and 30. Primary outcomes including recurrent ischemic stroke, neurologic deterioration, periphery vascular events, and myocardial infarction were monitored. Safety endpoints were hemorrhagic episodes and death.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of neurologic deterioration and recurrent ischemic stroke were lower in patients in the combination therapy group than in those of the monotherapy group (3.52% versus 9.78% and 1.76% versus 6.29%, respectively). At day 30 of treatment, the platelet aggregations and platelet-leukocyte aggregates were lower in patients who were treated with clopidogrel and aspirin than in patients given aspirin alone (P < .001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  For patients with acute large-artery atherosclerosis stroke, treatment with clopidogrel and aspirin for 1 month provided significantly greater inhibition of platelet activity than aspirin alone. Thus, dual therapy can be safer and more effective in reducing ischemic stroke recurrence and neurologic deterioration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, People's Hospital of Deyang City, Deyang, Sichuan.
authors.forename: Xingyang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yi
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Third Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical College, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China. Electronic address: yixingyang64@126.com.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, People's Hospital of Deyang City, Deyang, Sichuan.
authors.forename: Chun
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, People's Hospital of Deyang City, Deyang, Sichuan.
authors.forename: Biao
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Third Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical College, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China.
authors.forename: Wanzhang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Chi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001241:Aspirin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000077144:Clopidogrel; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D023381:Endpoint Determination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D002537:Intracranial Arteriosclerosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010974:Platelet Aggregation / Q000187:drug effects; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012008:Recurrence; D020521:Stroke / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology*; D013988:Ticlopidine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D000077144:Clopidogrel; D013988:Ticlopidine; D001241:Aspirin
keywords: Acute ischemic stroke; dual antiplatelet therapy; monoantiplatelet therapy; neurologic degeneration; stroke recurrence