Evaluation of anticoagulants in patients with cerebral infarction with slight to moderate neurological deficit.

In a non-randomized controlled study carried out on 238 hospitalized patients with cerebral infarction, anticoagulant treatment (AC) was compared with the natural course in the prevention of transient ischemic attacks (TIA), cerebral infarction, stroke, stroke or death. 137 patients were allocated to AC, mean follow-up 30.5 months, and 101 patients were allocated to the controls (untreated group), mean follow-up 25.2 months. There were no statistically significant differences among the patients in the group who had suffered TIA (AC treated group 10.2%, untreated group 5.9%), cerebral infarction (AC treated group 10.2%, untreated group 11.9%), stroke (AC treated group 14.6%, untreated group 12.9%), stroke or death (AC treated group 22.6%, untreated group 19.8%). Minor bleedings occurred significantly more frequently (P less than 0.01) in the treated group. Severe bleedings occurred in 8 patients in the treated group (5.8%) compared to 1 of the controls (1%). It is concluded from the trial that AC can only seldom be recommended as prophylactic against new strokes in patients with cerebral infarction due to arterial thromboembolism.