Dr. Futrell is directing MCO's participation in the study. Dr. Futrell hopes to enroll approximately 70 African-American patients between 29 and 85 years old in the study. Luke's Medical Center in Chicago, which is coordinating the study that is a collaborative effort of come than 20 medical centers in the Chicago area. The study started in 1995. MCO is the only medical center in Ohio participating in the study.
Strokes are the third leading cause of death in the United States.
They strike about 500,000 people a year, killing about one third. Often the survivors are paralyzed, are unable to talk or have other problems. Most strokes occur when a blood clot blocks an artery in the brain and disrupts the oxygen supply going to the brain. Much damage from a stroke occurs when dying cells give off chemicals that in turn kill health cells nearby. The study involves a comparison of aspirin and ticlopidine to determine which medication is more effective in preventing second strokes.