The International Stroke Trial (IST): a randomised trial of aspirin, subcutaneous heparin, both, or neither among 19 435 patients with acute ischaemic stroke

significant (14 [SD 6] per 1000, 2p=0·03). Aspirinallocated patients had significantly fewer recurrent ischaemic strokes within 14 days (2·8% vs 3·9%) with no significant excess of haemorrhagic strokes (0·9% vs 0·8%), so the reduction in death or non-fatal recurrent stroke with aspirin (11·3% vs 12·4%) was significant. Aspirin was associated with a significant excess of 5 (SD 1) transfused or fatal extracranial bleeds per 1000; in the absence of heparin the excess was 2 (SD 1) and was not significant. There was no interaction between aspirin and heparin in the main outcomes.

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