Aspirin and clopidogrel compared with clopidogrel alone after recent ischaemic stroke or transient ischaemic attack in high-risk patients (MATCH): randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

TL;DR: Ischemic stroke is most often due to a lack of blood flow to all or part of the brain, resulting in the deprivation of neurons of vital glucose and oxygen, and may develop rapidly in multiple arterial territories in the event of multiple emboli or a single embolus which breaks up as it travels.

TL;DR: This comment addresses only the comparison of aspirin (25 mg) plus extended-release dipyridamole (200 mg) twice daily (ASA-ERDP) versus clopidogrel (75 mg) once daily.

TL;DR: In this article, the authors show that the combination of anticoagulation with warfarin does not reduce the risk of stroke over aspirin alone and carries a greater risk of bleeding than clopidogrel alone.

TL;DR: The impact of the MATCH, ESPRIT, and PRoFESS trials on antithrombotic utilization has been variable and highlights the importance of addressing factors that affect the implementation of findings from major clinical trials.

TL;DR: Aspirin (or another oral antiplatelet drug) is protective in most types of patient at increased risk of occlusive vascular events, including those with an acute myocardial infarction or ischaemic stroke, unstable or stable angina, previous myocardian infarctions, stroke or cerebral ischaemia, peripheral arterial disease, or atrial fibrillation.

TL;DR: The antiplatelet agent clopidogrel has beneficial effects in patients with acute coronary syndromes without ST-segment elevation, however, the risk of major bleeding is increased among patients treated with clopIDogrel.

TL;DR: Long-term administration of clopidogrel to patients with atherosclerotic vascular disease is more effective than aspirin in reducing the combined risk of ischaemic stroke, myocardial infarction, or vascular death.

TL;DR: Following PCI, long-term clopidogrel therapy significantly reduced the risk of adverse ischemic events and subgroup analyses suggest that longer intervals between the loading dose and PCI may reduce events.