[Argatroban, Aspirin, and Clopidogrel Combination Therapy for Acute Penetrating Artery Infarction: A Pilot Study]

Treatment to prevent progressive neurological deficits in acute penetrating artery infarction (API) is clinically important, but has not yet been established. This study aims to investigate the efficacy and safety of argatroban, aspirin, and clopidogrel combination therapy for API. Patients with API (lacunar infarcts or branch atheromatous disease) admitted within 48 hours after onset were enrolled. We assigned them to argatroban, aspirin, and clopidogrel (AAC) group or argatroban and aspirin (AA) group. In both groups, blood pressure was controlled to near or below 180/105 mmHg in the admission period. We defined progressing stroke as a worsening of two or more points in the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score on the seventh day of admission. Fifty-four patients were enrolled. We assigned 28 patients to the AAC group, and 26 patients to the AA group. There were no significant differences in background factors between the two groups. The incidence of progressing stroke was significantly higher in the AA group (P<0.05). Intracranial hemorrhage or any other bleeding was not seen in the admission period in either group. Our findings suggest that the AAC combination therapy may positively affect progressive neurological deficits in API patients.