[Stroke and Other Thromboembolic Complications of Atrial Fibrillation. Part III. Prevention With Aspirin].

In part III of a series of papers on epidemiology and drug prevention of stroke and other thromboembolic complications of atrial fibrillation the authors present data on clinical pharmacology of aspirin as well as discussion of results of randomized trials in which cerebroprotective efficacy and safety of the use of aspirin for primary and secondary prevention of thromboembolism was studied in comparison with placebo and warfarin. According to cumulative data of 6 randomized studies average stroke risk lowering caused by aspirin was 22%. In primary prevention of stroke aspirin did not increase substantially frequency of serious bleedings. However in secondary prevention trials its use was associated with significant increase of serious bleeding rates. Thus in patients with atrial fibrillation aspirin compared with warfarin less effectively prevents stroke but causes fewer serious bleedings.