Cerebrovascular Disease: Trial of Long-term Anticoagulant Therapy

A trial of long-term anticoagulant therapy in patients with cerebrovascular disease was started in October, 1957, and progress during the first 20 months to June, 1959, was reported by At that stage there was no evidence that anticoagulants were reducing either the mortality or the recurrence rate of cerebrovascular accidents; indeed, the data suggested an adverse effect, particularly in hypertensive patients. The trial was therefore modified by withdrawing those who were hypertensive, and we report here the further progress of the trial in its modified form to its conclusion in October, 1961.