Stroke Patients Show Significant Risk
Reduction When Given Atacand (Candesartan Cilexetil)
Sommario: Nuovo studio che definisce chiaramente il beneficio
del trattamento dell'ipertensione arteriosa nei pazienti sofferenti di ictus
ischemico. I pazienti trattati con Atacand (candesartan cilexetil) (4-16 mg)
avevano una mortalità ridotta del 47.5%. Lo studio è stato sospeso dopo aver
osservato dei risultati così positivi in 342 pazienti. L'Atacand è un
bloccante del recettore angiotensina II tipo 1 (AT1). L'assunzione del farmaco
deve essere eseguita entro le prime 72 ore dall'ictus.
BIELEFELD, GERMANY -- November 29, 2001 -- New
data investigating the effect of antihypertensive treatment with Atacand (candesartan
cilexetil), in acute stroke patients with elevated blood pressure, were
presented at the 25th Scientific Meeting of the German Hypertension Society.
The new ACCESS* data clearly define the benefit and
safety from early antihypertensive intervention with Atacand for patients
suffering from acute ischaemic stroke.
These data reveal that the risk for the combined
endpoint of total mortality, cerebral complications and cardiovascular
complications, was reduced by 47.5 percent for patients treated with Atacand
(4-16 mg) (initiated within 72 hrs post stroke).
"ACCESS is an important new study because it
shows Atacand to be the first antihypertensive drug to improve outcomes for
acute ischaemic stroke patients with high blood pressure", commented lead
investigator Prof. J. Schrader, St.-Josefs-Hospital. "The new data will
prove extremely useful, providing guidance to physicians involved with the daily
management of patients with acute ischaemic stroke. The safety aspects of early
intervention with Atacand were highlighted as an important benefit for this
vulnerable patient group."
Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the
world today and a leading cause of adult disability. Each year, stroke affects
nearly 20 million people worldwide and of these, approximately five million
people die. Of the fifteen million people who suffer non-fatal strokes, a third
are left disabled, and at least one in six will experience a second stroke
within five years.
The final results of the ACCESS study confirm the
encouraging preliminary analysis which led to trial recruitment being
prematurely stopped with 342 randomised patients (339 valid for statistical
evaluation) in March 2001.
Atacand is a selective angiotensin II type 1 (AT1)
receptor blocker and is the first antihypertensive therapy to show a benefit
with early treatment for acute ischaemic stroke patients with high blood
pressure.
References
* The ACCESS study (Acute
Candesartan
Cilexetil
Evaluation
in Stroke
Survivors)
is a double- with 342 randomised patients (339 valid for statistical evaluation)
from 53 centres across Germany, looking at the use of Atacand in acute stroke
patients with high blood pressure. The objective of the study was to compare the
effects of an early (initiated within 72 hrs post stroke) vs. delayed (>7
days post event) antihypertensive treatment with Atacand for this patient
population with the primary end point being total mortality and disability after
3 months. Secondary endpoints assessed at 3 and 12 months were a combined
criterion of: total mortality, cerebral complications and cardiovascular
complications.
* Candesartan cilexetil, is an AT1-receptor blocker
which was discovered by Takeda Chemical Industries, Ltd. and has been developed
jointly by AstraZeneca and Takeda. The product is now available in most
countries under the trade names Atacand and/or Blopress by AstraZeneca and
Takeda respectively.
SOURCE: AstraZeneca
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