Dipyridamole plus Aspirin for Hemodialysis Graft Patency?

For hemodialysis patients who have arteriovenous grafts, stenosis and thrombosis of the graft are important and costly complications. In a multicenter study of an intervention to promote graft patency, 649 hemodialysis patients with newly placed grafts were randomized to extended-release dipyridamole plus aspirin (Aggrenox) or placebo. The study was funded by both the NIH and the dipyridamole–aspirin manufacturer.

The incidence of the primary endpoint — graft patency without thrombosis or requirement for intervention — was significantly higher in the dipyridamole–aspirin group than in the placebo group at 1 year (28% vs. 23%; P=0.03). Graft patency was prolonged by an average of 6 weeks with the active drug. Adverse events occurred with simi…