Effects of antiplatelet therapy after stroke due to intracerebral haemorrhage (RESTART): a randomised, open-label trial

Publication date: Available online 22 May 2019Source: The LancetAuthor(s): Colin Baigent, Daniel Lasserson, Frank Sullivan, Johanna Carrie, Javier Rojas, Shannon Amoils, John Bamford, Jane Armitage, Gabriel Rinkel, Gordon Lowe, Jonathan Emberson, Karen Innes, Lynn Dinsmore, Jonathan Drever, Carol Williams, David Perry, Connor McGill, David Buchanan, Allan Walker, Aidan HutchisonSummaryBackgroundAntiplatelet therapy reduces the risk of major vascular events for people with occlusive vascular disease, although it might increase the risk of intracranial haemorrhage. Patients surviving the commonest subtype of intracranial haemorrhage, intracerebral haemorrhage, are at risk of both haemorrhagic and occlusive vascular events, but whether antiplatelet therapy can be used safely is unclear. We aimed to estimate the relative and absolute effects of antiplatelet therapy on recurrent intracerebral haemorrhage and whether this risk might exceed any reduction of occlusive vascular events.MethodsThe REstart or STop Antithrombotics Randomised Trial (RESTART) was a prospective, randomised, open-label, blinded endpoint, parallel-group trial at 122 hospitals in the UK. We recruited adults (≥18 years) who were taking antithrombotic (antiplatelet or anticoagulant) therapy for the prevention of occlusive vascular disease when they developed intracerebral haemorrhage, discontinued antithrombotic therapy, and survived for 24 h. Computerised randomisation incorporating minimisation allocated part...
Source: The Lancet - Category: General Medicine Source Type: research