Major ongoing stroke trials.

The following is a list of major ongoing studies about stroke. Information about other multicenter studies that might be included in this list should be submitted to the Stroke Editorial Office by the Principal Investigator. The list will appear in the February, June, and October issues of Stroke. The ACCESS Study was designed to evaluate the influence of an early, moderate BP reduction in patients with acute cerebral ischemia in comparison to restrictive antihypertensive therapy. Outcome parameters are mortality and morbidity, measured by the neurological status. In total, 400 patients with acute cerebral ischemia and neurological deficit (motor paresis) are treated. Inclusion criteria are initial BP values of >200/110 mm Hg (systolic and/or diastolic) in occasional BP measuring or >180/105 mm Hg as median value of two measurements in 30 minutes. Furthermore, a motor paresis (monoparesis, hemiparesis, Bell’s palsy) has to be present. Patients are randomized and treated double-blind for 7 days with placebo or the AT1 receptor antagonist candesartan cilexetil. This substance was chosen due to its slow onset of action (maximum 6 hours after intake), and the low rate of side effects. Further, animal experiments have shown a neuroprotective effect. The study design is double-blind, randomized, and multicenter. The follow-up phase lasts 1 year. The placebo group is treated with candesartan if they are hypertensive after 7 days. Normotensive patients are followed up but not treated. The verum group is also continued on candesartan. If hypertension remains, a combination therapy with other substance classes is possible. Primary end points are patient morbidity (functional status measured with Rankin Scale and Barthel Index, degree of motor deficit by NIH scale) and mortality rates after 3 months. Follow-up will be continued for 12 months. ### Principal Investigators: Prof Dr J. Schrader, Prof Dr P. Dominiak ### Contact: Prof Dr J. Schrader, St Josefs Hospital, Ritterstr 17, …