[The effect of clinical trials on hospital admission for stroke]

To analyze the contribution of clinical trials in the hospital treatment of acute ischaemic cerebrovascular disease.

In recent studies many trials have been designed for the treatment of the acute phase of this illness. Based on experimental studies, the drugs used in the trial need to be given within a 'therapeutic window' of less than six hours from the onset of the illness. This time factor has led to a radical change in the organization of hospital services dealing with this illness. In order to run clinical trials the medical staff have had to be organized into functional stroke units for the swift protocolized diagnosis of the condition. Also information has to be given to health workers regarding the need for urgent specialized treatment. Several studies have shown that early, specialist treatment reduces morbi-mortality, time spent in hospital and financial cost in these patients.

Clinical trials in acute cerebrovascular pathology have formed the basis for the creation of stroke units, led to the drawing up of protocols for the diagnosis and guidelines for treatment. It has also made the medical profession more aware of the importance of early diagnosis and specialized treatment in acute cerebral ischaemia.