Ischemic stroke and antithrombotic therapy: key aspects

Abstract

The paper considers the key areas of antithrombotic therapy for ischemic stroke (IS). Antiplatelet therapy is shown to be a multistage and multidisciplinary strategy of treatment for patients with IS, which begins with the appearance of the first symptoms of the disease and continues throughout life. Each stage, including fibrinolytic therapy, early use of antithrombotic and anticoagulant drugs, and personalized antithrombotic prevention of recurrent cerebral disorders, is important in itself and serves a common goal. As a result, 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 life expectancy and to improve quality of life. Fibrinolytic therapy increases the patient’s chances of a full neurologic recovery and improves the quality of later life. Antithrombotic 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
• antithrombotic therapy
• prevention