[Aspirin and cerebral ischemic accidents]

At the acute phase of cerebral infarction, two recent large studies found that the use of aspirin reduces both mortality and the risk of the recurrence of stroke. In primary prevention, aspirin nearly halves the risk of myocardial infarction but does not reduce that of stroke. Concerning the secondary prevention of atherothrombotic brain infarcts, aspirin has been the most extensively studied drug, and is efficient between 50 mg and 1.3 g. In spite of the efficacy of other antiplatelets in this indication--ticlopidine (500 mg), clopidogrel (75 mg) and dipyridamole (400 mg)--aspirin remains the most cost-effective, doses between 100 and 300 mg being the most widely used. Cardiac diseases with a high embolic risk require the use of oral anticoagulation. In nonvalvular atrial fibrillation, the choice of antithrombotic drugs depends on risk stratification: oral anticoagulants are indicated in high-risk subjects, whereas aspirin is recommended in low-risk subjects and when oral anticoagulants are contraindicated. Studies with associations of aspirin and other antiplatelets are required to increase the yield of this medication in high-risk subjects, in parallel with efforts to detect and to treat the vascular risk factors.