Long-term Antithrombotic Therapy for Large and Small Artery Occlusive Disease

Long-term (>1 year) single antiplatelet therapy with aspirin is effective in reducing the risk of any early recurrent stroke by about one-sixth compared with no antiplatelet therapy. Clopidogrel monotherapy is marginally but significantly more effective than aspirin in reducing major vascular events. Cilostazol is also more effective than aspirin in Asian patients, and its therapeutic efficacy may be augmented by the addition of probucol in patients with ischaemic stroke and high risk of cerebral haemorrhage. The safety and effectiveness of cilostazol in non-Asian patients is not known. Prasugrel monotherapy (3.75 mg daily) is not non-inferior to clopidogrel monotherapy among Japanese patients with non-cardioembolic ischaemic stroke. Dual antiplatelet therapy with aspirin and extended-release dipyridamole is more effective than aspirin monotherapy and equally effective as clopidogrel monotherapy in preventing recurrent stroke. Dual antiplatelet therapy with aspirin and clopidogrel is more effective than aspirin monotherapy in preventing recurrent ischaemic stroke and myocardial infarction in high vascular risk patients, but it also increases the risk of major bleeding which may offset its benefits. Dual antiplatelet therapy with cilostazol added to aspirin or clopidogrel is more effective, and as safe as, aspirin or clopidogrel monotherapy in Japanese patients with non-cardioembolic ischaemic stroke.