Dual Antiplatelet Therapy for Moderate Ischemic Stroke

The CHANCE and POINT trials established the benefit of short-term dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) with clopidogrel and aspirin over aspirin alone in selected patients with minor ischemic stroke (NIH Stroke Scale score 0–3) or transient ischemic attack. The subsequent THALES trial showed a benefit of DAPT over aspirin alone, but in an expanded patient population that allowed for the inclusion of patients with moderate ischemic stroke (NIH Stroke Scale 4 or 5) as well. In this exploratory secondary analysis of data from THALES, sponsored by the manufacturer of ticagrelor, investigators evaluated whether the subset of patients with moderate ischemic stroke had similar benefits and bleeding risks with ticagrelor and aspirin versus aspirin alon…