What are the results of the THALES trial on the use of ticagrelor and aspirin for 30 days?
The THALES trial showed that the use of ticagrelor (180-mg loading dose, then 90 mg twice daily) plus aspirin (300- to 325- mg loading does, then 75 100 mg daily) for 30 days was slightly superior to aspirin alone in preventing recurrent stroke (recurrent stroke rate, 5% versus 6.3%; P=0.004). However, it was also associated with significantly increased risk of severe bleeding (0.5% versus 0.1%; P=0.01), and significantly more patients in the DAPT group discontinued treatment because of severe bleeding. The number needed to treat to prevent 1 primary outcome event was 92, and the number needed to harm was 263 for severe bleeding.