Recurrent Stroke Prevention Clinical Outcome Study

Rationale for Study Duration Predicting that strict BP control reduces the relative risk of recurrent stroke by 30% during the planned observation period of 3 years, the number of participants necessary to detect the recurrent stroke with rate of 2.5%/year and 7.5%/3 years is 2482 patients per group with a detection power of 90% and α-error of 0.05. A drop-out rate is estimated as 20%. Therefore, the study will be continued for 3 years until a total of 330 patients with recurrent stroke in both groups are identified. Rationale for Dosing Regimen One of ARB, losartan, is chosen for Step 1 therapy, because angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) is preferred as the first line of anti-hypertensives. Furthermore, a stepwise combination therapy of BP lowering drugs diuretic, hydrochlorothiazide, and calcium channel blocker, amlodipine, will be used, because the Japanese guidelines recommend the combination for BP control in prevention of recurrent stroke. (Step 2 to Step 5). Finally (as Step 6), a selective aldosterone antagonist, spironolactone, will be added for the treatment of with refractory hypertensive patients whose BP does not reach to the target. Treatment Plan The dosages of study drugs will be determined according to the package insert for the drug. Patients who are not treated with antihypertensive agent or treated with one antihypertensive agent at enrollment will start from Step 1. Patients who are treated with two antihypertensive agents at enrollment will start from Step 2. In principle, treatment duration will be for 4 weeks at each step.