Heparin In stroke

Heparin is being used for treatment for stroke by several Neurologist.But there is no convincing evidence at present it helps.More over there is asignificant increase in hemorragic complictions using conventional heparin.A non significant reduction in mortality was noted when low molecular heparin was used for stroke.But it reduced complications of venous thrombosis in stroke patients.Full dose heparin may be used in cardiac source of embolli and arterial dissection,but there is no data to suggest heparin reduce early recurrent stroke and neurological worsening in cardio embolic stroke,vertebro basilar stroke or arterial dissection.

Best sites on web for information on stroke

Organisations

http:// www.stroke.org/
http://www.stroke.org.uk/
http://ww2.heartandstroke.ca
http://www.strokeassociation.org/

Journals
http://stroke.ahajournals.org/
http://www.strokejournal.org/
http://content.nejm.org/
http://jnnp.bmj.com/
www.theneurologist.org
http://www.neurology.org/

womens health study results

In this study the role of low dose aspirin , and vitamin E in prevention of stroke and cardio vascular diseases were tested.The dose of aspirin used was 100mg.Vitamin E was used in the dose of 600IU.
The Results in nut shell :

Low dose aspirin if taken as a prophylatic agent prevent stroke in 45 years and older
It do not protect against first myocardial infarction.
Vitamin E do not provide any protection against cardiovascular diseases.
Vitamin E provide no protection against Cancer.

Both aspirin and vitamin E provided significant benefit in women older than65.

Study details : Randomised controlled
study population:women over 45
Number of participants :40000
study period:10 years.