Results of the PRoFESS Trial

Use Any Antiplatelet Agent and Get Back to the Basics

Jamieson, Dara G. MD

Associate Professor of Clinical Neurology, Weill-Cornell Medical College

Dr. Jamieson reports that she is a retained consultant for Boehringer Ingelheim, Merck, and Ortho-McNeil; and is on the speaker's bureau for Boehringer Ingelheim and Merck.

Neurology Alert 27(3):p 21-22, November 2008.

Synopsis:

Aspirin plus extended-release dipyridamole and clopidogrel are both appropriate options to decrease disability from recurrent stroke; however, telmisartan does not lower risk of suffering a second stroke.

Sources:

Sacco RL, Diener HC, Yusuf S, et al. Aspirin and extended-release dipyridamole versus clopidogrel for recurrent stroke. N Engl J Med 2008;359:1238-1251; Yusuf S, Diener HC, Sacco RL, et al. Telmisartan to prevent recurrent stroke and cardiovascular events. N Engl J Med 2008;359:1225-1237; Kent DM, Thaler DE. Stroke prevention — insights from incoherence. N Engl J Med 2008;359:1287-1289; Diener HC, Sacco RL, Yusuf S, et al. Effects of aspirin plus extendedrelease dipyridamole versus clopidogrel and telmisartan on disability and cognitive function after recurrent stroke in patients with ischemic stroke in the PRoFESS trial: a double-blind, active and placebo-controlled study. Lancet Neurol 2008;7:875-884; Hankey GJ, Eikelboom JW. What do the results of the PRoFESS trial teach us? Lancet Neurol 2008;7:860-862.