Antiplatelet therapy strategies for ischemic stroke

Abstract

The paper considers the key areas of antithrombotic platelet therapy for ischemic stroke (IS). Antithrombotic therapy is shown to be a multistep and multidisciplinary strategy of treatment for patients with IS that begins with the first symptoms of the disease and continues throughout life. Each stage, including fibrinolytic therapy, early administration of antiplatelet and anticoagulant drugs, and personalized antithrombotic prevention of recurrent cerebral disorders, is important in itself and serves a single goal. Untimately, all efforts should be aimed at reducing mortality rates in the acute phase of stroke and the functional dependence of a patient and at preventing venous thromboses, recurrent stroke, and all cardiovascular events to increase the duration and quality of life. Fibrinolytic therapy increases the patient's chances for a full neurological recovery and improves the quality of later life. Antiplatelet drugs reduce the risk of cardiovascular death, early recurrences of stroke, and recurrent noncardioembolic stroke. Parenteral anticoagulants in acute stroke decrease the risk of venous thrombosis/thromboembolism, oral anticoagulants reduce that of recurrent cardioembolic stroke.

Keywords

• ischemic stroke
• antiplatelet therapy
• prevention