Randomized clinical stroke trials in 2003.

Randomized clinical stroke trials published during 2003 dealt with what impact treatment of stroke risk factors have on reducing future strokes. Treatment of hypertension and hyperlipidemia, and atrial fibrillation with a new anticoagulant, were confirmed to be beneficial. Treatment with female hormones was not beneficial. A potentially important study indicated that donepezil is a useful treatment for dementia in people who have had strokes.