Platelet/Thrombocyte

Prevention of Vascular Events in Stroke/TIA Patients with ASA Following First Stroke

Presented here are results from a meta-analysis of the efficacy of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) in preventing stroke, myocardial infarction, or vascular death, combining the results according to the ASA dose used. The relative risks and 95% CI for the three dose categories (1,000-1,300 mg/d; 300 mg/d; 50-75 mg/d) of ASA and for all doses combined are shown. The relationship between the benefit of ASA and the dose showed that the relative risk is identical in all three dose categories. In each case, the relative risk is about 0.87, corresponding to a 13% relative risk reduction.

Outcomes of two single trials that directly compared different doses of ASA strongly suggest that the benefit of ASA is independent of dose in this patient population. Lower doses are now recommended because of their more favourable side effect profiles.