Blood thinner showdown: antiplatelets vs anticoagulants for neck artery tears
NCT ID NCT07639892
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study compares two types of blood thinners—antiplatelet drugs (like aspirin) and anticoagulants (like warfarin)—in 1100 people who have a torn neck artery causing a stroke or mini-stroke. The goal is to see which strategy better prevents another stroke, major bleeding, or death within 90 days. Participants are randomly assigned to one treatment group and followed for a year.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Antiplatelet drugs (aspirin, clopidogrel) or anticoagulant drugs (warfarin, apixaban, rivaroxaban, dabigatran, edoxaban)
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could show which drug strategy is safer and more effective at preventing strokes and major bleeding after a neck artery tear.
- What could go wrong
- This trial hasn't started yet, and results may not show a clear winner. Both drug types carry bleeding risks, and individual responses vary.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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About 1,100 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Expected to start
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Jul 2026
An estimate. Start dates often move.
- Expected to finish
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Mar 2030
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 years and older
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Written informed consent (according to requirements by national legislation) * Onset/visualization of acute cerebral ischemia (≤ 3 days prior to randomization) attributable to CAD (either) * CLINICAL ISCHEMIA: onset of acute ischemic stroke (including retinal infarct) or transient ischemic attack (including amaurosis fugax) attributable to CAD OR * ISCHEMIA WITHOUT CORRESPONDING SYMPTOMS: visualization of acute ischemic lesion on diffusion weighted imaging attributable to CAD * Clinical MRI with suitable sequences for CAD diagnosis * available OR * scheduled to be performed before discharge (if not performed before enrolment) * Diagnosis of Cervical Artery Dissection (i.e. extracranial carotid and/or vertebral artery) by MRI/A or CTA based on the presence of the following criteria (at least one) * Mural hematoma OR * Long tapering stenosis OR * Intimal flap OR * Double lumen OR * Flame-like occlusion of the dissected artery Exclusion Criteria: * Contraindications to either antiplatelets or oral anticoagulation therapy * Other indication than CAD for full dose oral anticoagulation * Contraindications for performance of MRI * Age \< 18 years * Female patients who are either pregnant or breastfeeding (pregnancy testing prior to start of treatment will follow the standard operating procedures of clinical routine at participating sites) Thrombolysis and/or endovascular treatment (EVT) is/are not considered an exclusion criterion.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
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The official record
The full official record for this study. This one lists no contact details, but it is the first place any would appear.
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A doctor treating you
A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.
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