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Apixaban for Treatment of Embolic Stroke of Undetermined Source

Apixaban for Treatment of Embolic Stroke of Undetermined Source (ATTICUS Randomized Trial)

Status
Completed
Phases
Phase 3
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT02427126
Acronym
ATTICUS
Enrollment
352
Registered
2015-04-27
Start date
2015-12-31
Completion date
2021-09-30
Last updated
2021-10-13

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Embolic Stroke of Undetermined Source

Keywords

ESUS, anticoagulation

Brief summary

Multicentre (national, Germany), randomized (2x2 factorial), open, parallel group, active controlled, efficacy study (phase III)

Detailed description

Based on the previous data, ATTICUS is designed as multicentre, national, parallel group, active controlled, phase III randomized (2x2 factorial), clinical trial to demonstrate the superiority of apixaban against the current standard of treatment (acetylsalicylic acid) for the longterm treatment after ESUS. ATTICUS will follow a dynamic treatment protocol implementing conversion from the acetylsalicylic acid arm to the apixaban arm in case of detection of relevant episodes of AF during the course of the study. ATTICUS is designed to test the superiority over acetylsalicylic acid to reduce new ischemic lesion detected by FLAIR/DWI MRI.

Interventions

DRUGApixaban

Apixaban is an oral anticoagulant currently approved for prevention of stroke and systemic embolism in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation, for the treatment of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, and for the prophylaxis of systemic embolism after orthopedic surgery

DRUGAspirin

Acetylic Salicylic Acid 100mg o.d.; 12 Months

Sponsors

Bristol-Myers Squibb
CollaboratorINDUSTRY
Medtronic
CollaboratorINDUSTRY
ZKS and IKEaB Tübingen
CollaboratorUNKNOWN
University Hospital Tuebingen
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE (Outcomes Assessor)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

Must be ≥ 18 years at the time of signing the informed consent. * ESUS must be defined according to following criteria: * Stroke detected by CT or MRI that is not lacunar * Absence of extracranial or intracranial atherosclerosis causing ≥50% luminal stenosis in arteries supplying the area of ischaemia * No major-risk cardioembolic source of embolism * No other specific cause of stroke identified * \* At least one of the following non-major but suggestive risk factors for cardiac embolism: * LA size \>45mm (parasternal axis) * spontaneous echo contrast in LAA * LAA flow velocity \<=0.2m/s * atrial high rate episodes * CHA2DS2-Vasc score \>=4 * persistent foramen ovale * Understand and voluntarily sign an informed consent document * Women of childbearing potential (WOCBP) must be using an adequate method of contraception.

Exclusion criteria

* History of hypersensitivity to the investigational medicinal product * Participation in other clinical trials or observation period of competing trials. * Arteria cerebri media stroke affecting \> 30% of c o r r e s p o n d i n g territory * Diagnosis of haemorrhage or other pathology, * Clear indication for anticoagulation * Inability to control following risk factors for Hemorrhagic Transformation of fresh cerebral Infarction (HTI) during index hospital stay: presence of HTI at the time of anticoagulation, blood pressure \>140 mmHg systolic, abnormal blood glucose Clear indication for dual antiplatelet therapy * Clear stroke-/non-stroke-indication for concomitant long-term therapy with antiplatelets (e.g. acetylsalicylic acid (ASA), Clopidogrel, or Prasugrel) or with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID). * Concomitant systemic therapy with strong inhibitors of cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) and P-glycoprotein (P-gp), i.e. azole antimycotics and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-protease inhibitors. * Contraindication to investigational medications * Planned or likely therapy with fibrinolytic agents within 48 hours of first study medication * History of intracranial, intraocular, spinal, retroperitoneal or atraumatic intra-articular bleeding * Gastrointestinal bleed or major surgery within 3 months * Planned or likely revascularization (any angioplasty or vascular surgery) within the next 3 months * TIA or minor stroke induced by angiography or surgery * Severe non-cardiovascular comorbidity with life expectancy \< 3 months * Severe renal failure, defined as Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR) \<15ml/min * Severe hepatic insufficiency (Child-Pugh score B to C), * Active liver disease, * Contraindications against performance of MRI (pacemaker/ICD), previous implantation non-MRI capable protheses * Patients considered unreliable by the investigator, or having a life expectancy less than the expected duration of the trial

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Imaging Endpoint: Occurrence of at least one new ischemic lesion at 12 months after study drug initiation when compared to baseline MRI before study drug initiation12 monthsThe primary endpoint will be the occurrence of at least one new ischemic lesion identified by magnetic resonance imaging (axial T2-weighted fluid attenuated inversion recovery MRI (FLAIR) and/or axial diffusion weighted MRI (DWI)) at 12 months when compared to the baseline MRI (FLAIR, DWI) obtained at the time of study drug initiation. MRI at 12 months will be directly compared with the baseline MRI to assess for new ischemic lesions.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Combination of recurrent ischaemic stroke, hemorrhagic stroke, systemic embolism12 monthsThe occurence of ischaemic stroke, hemorrhagic stroke, or systemic embolism during study participation (12months) will be quantified
Combination of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) including recurrent stroke, myocardial infarction and cardiovascular death12 monthsThe occurence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) including recurrent stroke, myocardial infarction and cardiovascular death during study participation (12months) will be quantified
Combination of major and clinically relevant non-major bleedings defined according to ISTH criteria12 monthsThe occurence of major and clinically relevant non-major bleedings defined according to ISTH criteria during study participation (12months) will be quantified
Change of cognitive function (MOCA)12 monthsMOCA test will be performed upon study enrollment and 12 months after enrollment and both tests will be compared
Life quality (EQ-5D)12 monthsEQ-5D questionnaire will be raised upon study enrollment and 12 months after enrollment and both questionnaires will be compared

Countries

Germany

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Mar 9, 2026