Potential value of triple antiplatelet therapy for secondary stroke prevention.

for Secondary Stroke Prevention To the Editor: We present (see the Table) our meta-analyses of the effects of antiplatelet regimens on the end point of stroke in long-term secondary stroke prevention trials (CAPRIE1 and AAASPS2; references for all other trials are in antiplatelet trialist articles3,4). Statistically significant results are indicated by their 95% confidence intervals (CI). That aspirin (ASA) is better than placebo is well demonstrated statistically (P 0.001), but the benefit is modest: a relative risk reduction (RRR) of 16%. The benefit from dipyridamole (DP) monotherapy appears to be similar to that of ASA. The ADP receptor antagonists (ADPRAs) clopidogrel and ticlopidine are perhaps somewhat more effective than ASA (estimate, 8%), but the differences are not statistically significant. Furthermore, there are serious safety concerns with ticlopidine. In contrast, the combination of DP and ASA is much superior to placebo: RR 0.652 (95% CI, 0.562 to 0.756) for an RRR of 35%. This combination is also clearly superior to ASA alone: RR 0.796 (95% CI, 0.676 to 0.939) for an RRR of 20%. Therefore, in the absence of specific contraindications, for long-term secondary prevention of noncardiac stroke, monotherapy is scientifically and ethically unacceptable; dual therapy with DP plus ASA must be the standard treatment for individuals and the control regimen in clinical trials. What about triple rather than dual therapy? Zhao et al5 have explored in vitro the effects on platelet and leukocyte function of ASA, DP, and AR-C69931 used singly, in pairs, and in triple combination (AR-C69931 has effects similar to those of clopidogrel but, unlike clopidogrel, which must be transformed in the liver, is active in vitro). They conclude, “In summary, the overall message of our work is that combinations of three antiplatelet drugs which work through different mechanisms are superior to any single agent alone, or pairs of agents, in modifying platelet activity and heterotypic cell adhesion and leukocyte activation. Combining three different antiplatelet agents may be a new mechanistic strategy for antiplatelet therapy, specifically in the secondary prevention of vascular disease.” Based on the observed mean RR for DP plus ASA versus ASA (0.796; 95% CI, 0.676 to 0.939), on the assumption that ADPRA effects and DP ASA effects are independent, and on the conservative estimate that ADPRA and ASA effects are equal, ie, they each reduce risk by 16% (RRR 0.838) versus placebo, the projection of RR for the combination DP ASA ADPRA versus ASA is 0.796 0.838 0.667, for an RRR of 33%. The projection of RR for the combination DP ASA ADPRA versus placebo is 0.652 0.838 0.546, for an RRR of 45%. Thus, triple therapy might improve the best current RRR for stroke from 35% against placebo to (an estimated mean value of) 45% versus placebo. This potential for improvement in prophylaxis warrants a clinical trial. In conclusion, dual therapy with DP and ASA (not monotherapy with any antiplatelet agent) should be the standard regimen for the individual patient who has had transient ischemic attack or ischemic stroke of noncardiac origin and is the only currently acceptable control regimen in clinical trials. Triple therapy with DP ASA ADPRA projects as superior to DP ASA dual therapy; a trial of triple versus dual therapy is warranted.