Possibilities of antiplatelet therapy in non-cardioembolic ischemic stroke

Most patients survive their first non-cardioembolic ischemic stroke (IS), but a significant proportion of them experience a second stroke within the first year. The main directions for the prevention of recurrent IS are antihypertensive and lipid-lowering therapy, control of glucose levels in patients with diabetes mellitus, and smoking cessation. Clinical guidelines recommend the use of antiplatelet therapy in patients with noncardioembolic IS or transient ischemic attack (TIA). The administration of antiplatelet agents to patients who have had a TIA or stroke reduces their risk of recurrent stroke by 23% and the overall risk of vascular events (myocardial infarction, stroke, and death from cardiovascular disease) by 17% (Antithrombotic Trialists' Collaboration, 2009). Acetylsalicylic acid (ASA), the combined use of clopidogrel and ASA, and the combination of ASA with sustained release dipyridamole have been shown to be effective for secondary prevention of non-cardioembolic IS. Intensive antiplatelet therapy reduces the risk of recurrent stroke, but increases the frequency of bleeding.