Single or dual antiplatelet therapy after a transient ischaemic attack or minor ischaemic stroke?

A recent systematic review provides evidence on the antiplatelet treatment needed after these types of stroke. An average 55-year-old man has a 1 in 6 risk of stroke during his lifetime; a woman’s risk is 1 in 5.1 A significant proportion will suffer long-term functional, cognitive and psychological disabilities. Stroke also has a significant impact on health service providers. One economic evaluation has estimated that an average patient may need £50 000 worth of health and social care in the 5 years after an acute stroke.2 In a transient ischaemic attack (TIA) symptoms resolve within 24 hours. However, a TIA puts patients at high risk (up to 8% within 7 days) of a subsequent stroke.3 Clinical prediction tools, such as the ABCD2 score, can help risk stratify those most likely to go on and have a stroke.4 5 Patients with suspected TIA are treated as a medical emergency with management including giving aspirin immediately and urgent assessment.3 However, there is uncertainty in some clinical guidelines about the use of single or dual antiplatelet agents following an ischaemic stroke or TIA. Current National Institute for Health and Care Excellence(NICE) guidance advocates monotherapy (usually clopidogrel) following a non-disabling stroke or TIA. Dual therapy may be considered for 90 days, …