Source: DGNews  |  Posted 8 years ago

By Adrian Burton

VALENCIA, SPAIN -- May 22, 2003 -- A study from Mexico shows that patients with cervical artery dissection (CAD) improve just as well on aspirin as they do on anticoagulation treatment.

"In people under 45 [years of age], cervical artery dissection is one of the main causes of cerebral infarction," explained Antonio Arauz, MD, a Stroke Neurologist at the National Institute of Neurology, Mexico City, reporting results here May 22nd at the 2003 European Stroke Conference.

"Standard treatment to prevent thromboembolic complications has long been antiplatelet therapy with aspirin. But in recent years anticoagulation therapy has been recommended. We wanted to see whether there was really any benefit since treatment with aspirin is less complicated and there is less risk of haemorrhage."

The study, which ran from January 1988 till October 2002, involved 91 CAD patients -- 40 with carotid artery and 51 with vertebral artery dissections. Following international treatment recommendations during this period, 79.1% of patients were treated with aspirin 100