Atrial cardiopathy biomarkers and atrial fibrillation in the ARCADIA trial.

Background: ARCADIA compared apixaban to aspirin for secondary stroke prevention in patients with cryptogenic stroke and atrial cardiopathy. One possible explanation for the neutral result is that biomarkers used did not optimally identify atrial cardiopathy. We examined the relationship between biomarker levels and subsequent detection of AF, the hallmark of atrial cardiopathy.

Apixaban to Prevent Recurrence After Cryptogenic Stroke in Patients With Atrial Cardiopathy: The ARCADIA Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Atrial cardiopathy is associated with stroke in the absence of clinically apparent atrial fibrillation. It is unknown whether anticoagulation, which has proven benefit in atrial fibrillation, prevents stroke in patients with atrial cardiopathy and no atrial fibrillation.

Objective: To compare anticoagulation vs antiplatelet therapy for secondary stroke prevention in patients with cryptogenic stroke and evidence of atrial cardiopathy.

Using Epidemiological Data to Inform Clinical Trial Feasibility Assessments: A Case Study.

Background: Clinical trial enrollment and completion is challenging, with nearly half of all trials not being completed or not completed on time. In 2014, the National Institutes of Health StrokeNet in collaboration with stroke epidemiologists from GCNKSS (Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Stroke Study) began providing proposed clinical trials with formal trial feasibility assessments. Herein, we describe the process of prospective feasibility analyses using epidemiological data that can be used to improve enrollment and increase the likelihood a trial is completed.