Analysis of trials evaluating combinations of acetylsalicylic acid and dipyridamole in the secondary prevention of stroke.

BACKGROUND

Stroke is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in the United States. Patients who suffer a cerebrovascular event are at high risk of a recurrence, and secondary prevention is crucial to reducing the burden of cerebrovascular disease. Acetylsalicylic acid (ASA, aspirin) is an established method of stroke prophylaxis.

OBJECTIVE

This review investigates whether the addition of dipyridamole to ASA further reduces the risk of stroke recurrence.

METHODS

To identify clinical trials of the use of combinations of ASA and dipyridamole in the prevention of recurrent stroke in patients who have suffered a first stroke or transient ischemic attack, the English-language literature was searched from 1966 through May 2001 using the MEDLINE, International Pharmaceutical Abstracts, EMBASE, and BIOSIS databases. The search terms used were dipyridamole, aspirin, acetylsalicylic acid, ischemic stroke, and cerebrovascular disorders.

CONCLUSIONS

Of the 5 published studies, 3 earlier studies detected no differences in outcome when dipyridamole was added to ASA therapy for stroke prophylaxis. Two more recent trials found that the addition of dipyridamole to ASA therapy provided further reduction in the risk of secondary cerebrovascular events compared with placebo and with ASA alone. Further studies are needed to confirm long-term benefit.