[Prevention of venous thrombosis in recent ischaemic cerebrovascular accident: double-blind study with heparin-dihydroergotamine (author's transl)]

Abstract

In a randomised, double-blind study 5,000 IU heparin-dihydroergotamine mesylate (Dihydergot) or placebo were administered over 14 days to 107 patients with recent ischaemic cerebrovascular accident. The patients were studied daily for recent venous thrombosis in the legs by means of the 125I-fibrinogen test. Thirteen patients died before venous thrombosis had been demonstrated, 13 others were excluded by other causes. Of the 41 patients in the placebo group 23 developed venous thrombosis, but only 11 of the 40 drug-treated patients. Bilateral venous thrombosis occurred in six patients on the placebo and one patient on the drug. Univariate analysis indicated that heart failure, reduction of muscle tone, muscular power and level of consciousness favoured thrombosis. Multivariate analysis further indicated that both bed-rest of several days before start of the prophylactic treatment and extreme obesity favoured thrombosis. The relative thrombosis risk increased by a factor of 15.2 when prophylactic measures were omitted. Death rate in the treated group ws 17.4%, in the placebo group 28.0%. These results indicate that a prophylactic regimen of the type described is a practicable and effective measure after recent ischaemic cerebrovascular accident.