Aspirin may be safe in patients who have had an intracerebral haemorrhage and may even lower the risk of a repeat event, a new study suggests.

Researchers say the findings are reassuring for patients who have had a brain bleed but who need antiplatelet therapy, as the medications probably do not increase the risk of recurrent haemorrhagic stroke.

In the Lancet study, researchers led by the University of Edinburgh tracked 537 people from across the UK who had experienced a brain haemorrhage while taking antithrombotic (either platelet or anticoagulant) therapy for occlusive vascular disease and had then ceased the therapy.

Patients were randomly assigned to either resume antiplatelet treatment — which included aspirin, dipyridamole or clopidogrel, as chosen by their treating doctor — or avoid it for up to five years.