ESPIRIT study

Introduction

Study characteristics

• 2739 patients with transient ichemic attack or minor ischemic stroke
• randomized controlled trial
• mean follow-up 3.5 years

Treatment groups:

• aspirin 30-325 mg QD
• aspirin 30-325 mg QD plus pyridamole 200 mg BID

Combined endpoint:

• vascular death, non-fatal stroke, non-fatal MI, major bleeding

Results:

• significantly fewer patients in combined aspirin plus dipyridamole group reached combined endpoint (13% vs 16%)
• significantly more patients in combined aspirin plus dipyridamole group discontinued therapy (34% vs 13%), largely due to headache

More general terms

• ischemic stroke prevention trial