INTRODUCTION: Stroke is the leading cause of death in Brazil. The risk of suffering a recurrent stroke is around 30% in 5 years. Antiplatelet therapy has been frequently used to prevent recurrent strokes without laboratory control. OBJECTIVE: To determine the value of the platelet aggregation test in the control of antiplatelet aggregation in the secondary stroke prevention. METHOD: Retrospective study from January 1990 to January 2001 with 189 patients with stroke that were followed up during this period with platelet aggregation curve. Patients with cardioembolic disease were excluded. Low aggregation rates of platelet aggregation activated by ADP and/or epinephrine lower or equal to 50% were considered. Patients were followed up for a period from one to six years to verify differences in stroke recurrence. RESULTS: Nine patients had had a recurrent stroke; 2,6% of the strokes occurred among the group with low aggregaton and 15,1% among the group with normal aggregation (0,03<OR<0,69, p<0,05). Most of the cases occurred in the second year after the first stroke. CONCLUSION: Platelet aggregation curve is a valid and a helpful laboratory test to therapeutic control of antiplatelet aggregation in secondary stroke prevention.
INTRODUCTION:Stroke is the leading cause of death in Brazil. The risk of suffering a recurrent stroke is around 30% in 5 years. Antiplatelet therapy has been frequently used to prevent recurrent strokes without laboratory control. OBJECTIVE: To determine the value of the platelet aggregation test in the control of antiplatelet aggregation in the secondary stroke prevention. METHOD: Retrospective study from January 1990 to January 2001 with 189 patients with stroke that were followed up during this period with platelet aggregation curve. Patients with cardioembolic disease were excluded. Low aggregation rates of platelet aggregation activated by ADP and/or epinephrine lower or equal to 50% were considered. Patients were followed up for a period from one to six years to verify differences in stroke recurrence. RESULTS: Nine patients had had a recurrent stroke; 2,6% of the strokes occurred among the group with low aggregaton and 15,1% among the group with normal aggregation (0,03<OR<0,69, p<0,05). Most of the cases occurred in the second year after the first stroke. CONCLUSION:Platelet aggregation curve is a valid and a helpful laboratory test to therapeutic control of antiplatelet aggregation in secondary stroke prevention.