[Large trials in the secondary prevention of stroke]

Abstract

To date, no drug has been demonstrated as efficacious in the treatment of acute ischemic stroke. Therefore, primary and secondary prevention play a fundamental role. Besides adequate control of risk factors, trials and meta-analyses have demonstrated that both medical and surgical therapy are effective in secondary prevention of stroke. In patients with atherothrombotic transient ischemic attack (TIA) or minor stroke and carotid stenosis > 70%, surgical therapy (endarterectomy) is the treatment of choice, while antiplatelet drugs are the elective treatment in the case of stenosis < 70%. Acetylsalicylic acid is the first choice medical treatment, but the optimal dosage is still a matter of debate. Ticlopidine has an efficacy similar to that of aspirin, but shows a certain number of side effects; recently a European study has shown the efficacy of dipyridamole, and the superiority of the combination dipyridamole-aspirin vs low-dose aspirin. In the secondary prevention of cardioembolic stroke, oral anticoagulants have higher efficacy than antiplatelet drugs, at least in selected groups of patients.