Antiplatelet drugs in the secondary prevention after stroke: differential efficacy in large versus small vessel disease? A subgroup analysis from ESPS-2.

Background And Purpose: Arterial disease resulting in cerebral ischemia can be classified into large vessel disease (LVD) and small vessel disease (SVD). We assessed whether antiplatelet drugs were more efficacious in large than in small vessel cerebrovascular disease.

Methods: Individual patient data of the second European Stroke Prevention Study (n=6602), in which patients with a previous transient ischemic attack or ischemic stroke were randomized to aspirin, dipyridamole, their combination, or placebo, were reanalyzed.

Underfunding of stroke research: a Europe-wide problem.

Background And Purpose: Previous studies in the United States and the United Kingdom have shown that stroke research is underfunded compared with coronary heart disease (CHD) and cancer research despite the high clinical and financial burden of stroke. We aimed to determine whether underfunding of stroke research is a Europe-wide problem.

Methods: Data for the financial year 2000 to 2001 were collected from 9 different European countries.