NETT POINT

Platelet-Oriented Inhibition in New TIA and minor ischemic stroke (POINT)

POINT is a multicenter clinical trial to determine the safety and effectiveness of the combination of low-dose aspirin and a medication called clopidogrel (also known by the brand name Plavix ®) in reducing the risk of stroke, heart attacks and other complications in patients who have just had a transient ischemic attack (TIA) or minor ischemic stroke.

A TIA is a condition that produces stroke-like symptoms like sudden weakness on one side of the body or trouble speaking, but the symptoms are temporary. A minor ischemic stroke occurs when blood flow is interrupted to a part of the brain. Depending on the region of the brain affected, a stroke may cause paralysis, speech impairment, loss of memory and reasoning ability, coma, or death.

The best treatment for prevention of another stroke or TIA in patients with narrowing of one of the arteries in the brain is uncertain. A common treatment is the use of anti-clotting medications to prevent blood clots from forming in the narrowed vessel. There are a variety of medicines used for this purpose, including aspirin and clopidogrel. These medications are usually taken for the rest of a patient’s life.

This study will enroll 5841 patients at approximately one hundred and fifty different institutions; each participant will be involved in the study for 90 days.

Contact Us

RRC@mcw.edu | (414) 805-6493