LACunar Intervention (LACI-2) Trial-2

A quarter of all ischaemic strokes (about 35000 per annum in the UK) are lacunar (small vessel) in type, mainly caused by an intrinsic, non-atheromatous, non-cardioembolic disease of the small deep perforating cerebral arterioles. More diffuse cerebral small vessel disease also causes up to 45% of dementias (350,000+ patients estimated currently in the UK), either alone or in association with Alzheimer's disease. There is no proven treatment for cerebral small vessel disease: conventional antiplatelet drugs may be ineffective or even hazardous, whilst antihypertensive treatment and statins may not have an effect. The disease mechanism is poorly understood but endothelial dysfunction, blood-brain barrier failure and vessel stiffness appear to contribute to the pathogenesis. Promising data available for licensed drugs with relevant modes of action, cilostazol (\>6000 stroke patients in the Asia Pacific Region) and isosorbide mononitrate (ISMN, widely used in cardiac disease) support their testing in cerebral small vessel disease. This trial will be an Phase IIb preparatory to Phase III, randomised, partial factorial, open label, blinded end-point trial, testing cilostazol, ISMN, both, or neither, to assess the feasibility of recruitment, drug tolerability, trial procedures, safety and event rates in 400 patients recruited in UK stroke centres and followed-up to one year (primary endpoint). This trial is preparatory to a large, definitive, Phase III randomised controlled trial to prevent recurrent lacunar stroke and progressive small vessel disease-related physical and cognitive impairments after lacunar stroke.