An Alternative Antiplatelet Agent for Atherosclerotic Stroke?

In an exploratory analysis of the SOCRATES trial, patients with ischemic stroke or TIA caused by atherosclerosis benefited more from ticagrelor than from aspirin, but such use would be off label.

Patients with transient ischemic attack (TIA) or stroke caused by extracranial or intracranial atherosclerotic lesions are at increased risk for recurrent events, compared with stroke or TIA with causes other than atherosclerosis (AS). Patients with stroke caused by AS might benefit from a stronger or different antiplatelet regimen. Ticagrelor is a reversible platelet P2Y12 receptor antagonist that is superior to clopidogrel in patients with coronary artery disease.

In this manufacturer-funded analysis, investigators from the SOCRATES study compared ticagrelor (180-mg loading dose, followed by 90 mg twice per day) with aspirin (300 mg on day 1, followed by 100 mg) in patients with stroke or TIA due to AS. At the time of patient entry, local …

Reviewing Author

Seemant Chaturvedi, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardBayer Pharmaceuticals; Novartis

Grant/Research SupportNational Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

Editorial BoardsNeurology; Stroke

Seemant Chaturvedi, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardBayer Pharmaceuticals; Novartis

Grant/Research SupportNational Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

Editorial BoardsNeurology; Stroke

An Alternative Antiplatelet Agent for Atherosclerotic Stroke?

Topics

Reviewing Author