Platelet aggregation in focal cerebral ischemia - a clinical study

In a consecutive series of 35 patients with transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) 26 patients (74%) had pathological platelet aggregation 4 weeks after the latest TIA. Pathological platelet aggregation was the most frequent factor leading to a prophylactic treatment of the TIAs. Among 12 patients with reversible ischemic neurological deficit (RIND) only one had pathological platelet aggregation, and among 54 patients with completed stroke 37% had pathological platelet aggregation 4 weeks after the cerebral infarction. It is possible by the antiaggregating agents acetylsalicylic acid and dipyridamole to normalize in vitro pathological platelet aggregation. The frequency of side effects was low. During this treatment further TIAs were stopped in 17/19 patients, and remission were seen in 14/14 stroke patients. Compared with the remissions during treatment with anticoagulants there was a tendency of more favourable outcome in the group of stroke patients when treated with antiaggregating agents.