Abciximab for Prevention of Stroke Recurrence Before Endarterectomy in Symptomatic Carotid Stenosis

Inclusion Criteria: * Age at least 18 years. * Presence of symptoms of an ischemic stroke with a baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scale of one up to 20 or due to an ipsilateral atherosclerotic \>50% stenosis of the extracranial internal carotid artery (ICA) as shown by ultrasonography. * Latency between the onset of stroke symptoms and intended administration of the study drugs is not more than 24 hours. * Latency between the intended administration of the study drugs and intended carotid endarterectomy is at least three days. Exclusion Criteria: * Documented peptic ulcer disease within the preceding 30 days. * Septicemia or severe localized infection. * Severe illness (active cancer or significant liver or renal disease) or disability. * Alcohol or illicit drug abuse. * Pregnancy. * Need for chronic anticoagulant therapy (e.g. atrial fibrillation, deep venous thrombosis). * Need for long-term daily nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs. * Contraindications for platelet therapy such as severe bleeding disorder within the past three months prior to randomization (coagulopathy, platelet disorder including history of heparin-induced thrombopenia, hemorrhage) or significant retinopathy with hemorrhages and exudates. * Hypersensitivity to abciximab, murine monoclonal antibodies or aspirin. * Any preexisting intracranial neurological disease such as tumor or multiple sclerosis. * Intracranial or intraspinal operation or trauma or lumbar puncture within t…