| Methods |
R = central office, stratified by gender, previous TIA or stroke, previous severe stroke
Blinding: treating clinician, patient, and assessor
Medications in identical capsules and containers
12 patients (3 ticlopidine, 9 aspirin) judged ineligible after randomisation |
| Participants |
56 centres in USA and Canada
3069 patients randomised (8814 screened), 1982 to 1986
TIA, RIND, or minor ischaemic stroke (at least 80% recovery within 3 weeks) due to presumed atherothromboembolism
CT scan: 75% of patients (50% abnormal)
Mean time from qualifying event to treatment: 21 days
Mean age: 63 years
Gender: 64% male
Race: 80% white
Comparability of groups: age, gender, vascular risk factors
Ex crit: < 40 years; women of childbearing potential; history of carotid artery surgery or a moderate‐to‐major stroke < 3 months before a qualifying event; symptoms due to migraine, cardiogenic embolism, or haematological disorders; history of peptic ulcer, upper GI bleeding; life‐threatening disease such as cancer; aspirin hypersensitivity or intolerance; aspirin or anticoagulant use required |
| Interventions |
Ticlopidine 250 mg twice daily versus aspirin 650 mg twice daily
Duration of Rx: mean 29 months ticlopidine, 26 months aspirin |
| Outcomes |
Primary: non‐fatal stroke or death from all causes
Secondary: fatal and non‐fatal stroke and MI |
| Notes |
Co: 89% took at least 75% of medication more than 90% of the time; 24 (11 ticlopidine, 13 aspirin) never took drug
Duration of follow up: 24 to 72 months (mean 40 months)
Lost to follow up: 84 (3%) patients (46 ticlopidine, 38 aspirin) |
