A TRIAL TO EVALUATE THE EFFICACY OF PICOTAMIDE IN PREVENTING THROMBOTIC OCCLUSION OF THE VASCULAR ACCESS IN HEMODIALYSIS-PATIENTS

The most common complication of the vascular access sites in patients on chronic hemodialysis is represented by thrombotic occlusions. The S TOP Study is a large, prospective, multicenter, double-blind, placebo- controlled study involving; over 800 patients to be treated for one ye ar with either picotamide, a new antiplatelet agent, or with placebo. The aim of the study is to assess whether an antithrombotic treatment with picotamide can prevent the occurrence of thrombotic occlusions of the arterial venous shunts in a general population of patients underg oing hemodialysis under current management procedures. The rationale a nd design of the study, which is the first trial large enough to provi de reliable information on thrombotic occlusion in patients on chronic hemodialysis with permanent internal vascular accesses, are described .