Warfarin versus aspirin in the secondary prevention of stroke: the WARSS study.

The role of anticoagulation in the secondary prevention of noncardioembolic stroke has long been an area of debate. Previous evidence has shown that anticoagulation is unsafe at an International Normalized Ratio between 3.0 and 4.5. Results of the recently published Warfarin-Aspirin Recurrent Stroke Study (WARSS) suggest that there is no difference between warfarin and aspirin in the prevention of recurrent ischemic stroke or death or in the rate of major hemorrhage. Differences in the therapeutic interventions used may have had an effect on the differences in endpoints achieved as compared with previous studies. Results of ongoing trials are anticipated to further clarify the role of anticoagulation in the secondary prevention of stroke.