Abstract | BACKGROUND: OBJECTIVES: SEARCH STRATEGY: We searched the Cochrane Stroke Group Trials Register (last searched 3 October 2009). In addition, we performed comprehensive searches of the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (The Cochrane Library Issue 2, 2009), MEDLINE (January 1966 to November 2009) and EMBASE (January 1980 to November 2009), checked all relevant papers for additional eligible studies and contacted authors and researchers in the field. SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomised controlled trials, controlled clinical trials and non-randomised studies (if they reported on outcome stratified by antithrombotic treatment and included at least four patients) of anticoagulants or antiplatelet agents for the treatment of extracranial internal carotid artery dissection. Two review authors independently extracted data. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Primary outcomes were death (all causes) and death or disability. Secondary outcomes were ischaemic stroke, symptomatic intracranial haemorrhage, and major extracranial haemorrhage during the reported follow-up period. The first choice treatment was taken for analyses. MAIN RESULTS: We did not find any completed randomised trials. Comparing antiplatelets with anticoagulants across 36 observational studies (1285 patients), there were no significant differences in the odds of death (Peto odds ratio (Peto OR) 2.02, 95% CI 0.62 to 6.60), or the occurrence of ischaemic stroke (OR 0.63, 95% CI 0.21 to 1.86) (34 studies, 1262 patients). For the outcome of death or disability, there was a non-significant trend in favour of anticoagulants (OR 1.77, 95% CI 0.98 to 3.22; P = 0.06) (26 studies, 463 patients). Symptomatic intracranial haemorrhages (5/627; 0.8%) and major extracranial haemorrhages (7/425; 1.6%) occurred only in the anticoagulation group; however, for both these outcomes, the estimates were imprecise and indicated no significant difference between the two treatment modalities. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS:
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Authors | Philippe Lyrer, Stefan Engelter |
Journal | The Cochrane database of systematic reviews
(Cochrane Database Syst Rev)
Issue 10
Pg. CD000255
(Oct 06 2010)
ISSN: 1469-493X [Electronic] England |
PMID | 20927720
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Meta-Analysis, Review, Systematic Review)
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Chemical References |
- Anticoagulants
- Fibrinolytic Agents
- Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors
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Topics |
- Anticoagulants
(therapeutic use)
- Carotid Artery, Internal, Dissection
(drug therapy)
- Controlled Clinical Trials as Topic
- Fibrinolytic Agents
(therapeutic use)
- Humans
- Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors
(therapeutic use)
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