Randomization and Masking
Stroke
STROKE
We used a 2 × 2 factorial design since both ISMN and cilostazol have relevant, potentially complementary, modes of action and no known adverse interactions, and there is no specific treatment for lacunar strokeWe randomized participants to treatment with vs without ISMN and with vs without cilostazol (each in a 1:1 ratio), using a secure internet-based system (University of Nottingham Stroke Trials Unit). Participants with indications for, or contraindications to, one study drug could be randomized to the other drug. To ensure well-balanced treatment groups for important prognostic factors (details in Wardlaw