American Heart Association's 23rd International Joint Conference on Stroke and Cerebral Circulation

November 25, 1997

TO: Writers, Editors, Broadcasters

FROM: News Media Relations, American Heart Association

RE: American Heart Association's 23rd International Joint Conference on Stroke and Cerebral Circulation

You are invited to cover the AHA's 23rd International Joint Conference on Stroke and Cerebral Circulation, which will be held February 5-7, 1998 at the Omni Rosen in Orlando. This is the largest conference in the world that draws together medical scientists and physicians engaged in research and treatment of stroke, the third leading cause of death in the United States and the leading cause of serious disability. More than 1,500 scientists are expected to attend from the United States and other nations.

This year's meeting includes 86 oral presentations and 195 poster presentations on the latest developments in clinical and laboratory research on stroke. Conference highlights include sessions on the final phase of the North American Symptomatic Carotid Endarterectomy Trial (NASCET) featuring definitive statements about the use of carotid endarterectomy. Other topics: stroke and African-Americans; an examination of the use of stroke units; and how TPA is faring in practice in comparison to how it fared in clinical trials.

Other topics of note include results from the CARE trial, which looks at the effect that cholesterol-lowering drugs have on stroke, a prediction for the number of strokes in the next 50 years and a look at why people do not get to the hospital in time to receive clot-busting medication.

These topics and many others will be featured in news conferences and news releases. We will have media availabilities for those researchers whose studies are presented in news releases.

The meeting begins Thursday, February 5 at 8 a.m. with a presidential symposium on cerebrovascular disease in African-Americans. Poster presentations commence that evening at 6 p.m. with a session that includes 85 presentations on clinical trials.

Please return the enclosed form so we can best serve your needs. Room rates are $139 per night. Reservations must be received by January 4 for the special room rate. You can reach the Omni Rosen by phone at (407) 354-9840 or by fax at (407) 354-3169. The hotel address: Omni Rosen Hotel, 9840 International Drive, Orlando, FL 32819-8122

For more information, contact Brian Henry (214) 706-1135; Carole Bullock (214) 706-1279 or Karen Astle (214) 706-1392.

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