Antithrombotic agents in cerebral ischaemia
Dalal, P.M.; Mishra, N.K.; Bhattacharjee, M.; Bhat, P.
Journal of the Association of Physicians of India 54: 555-561
2006
ISSN/ISBN: 0004-5772 PMID: 17089906 Document Number: 602986
The current evidence suggests that aspirin is treatment of choice when compared to anticoagulants for patients with non-cardioembolic stroke. The usefulness of combination therapy (aspirin vs. with or without warfarin) is still debated. Likewise the combination of Aspirin with clopidogrel has no added advantage (MATCH Trial). However anticoagulant therapy significantly benefits high-risk patients with atrial fibrillation in the elderly subjects whereas aspirin may still be the drug of choice in stroke prevention in low risk group in the younger age. There is dire need for well planned randomized double blind controlled studies to define the role of Antithrombotic agents in "cryptogenic stroke" (PFO/ASD related) antiphospholipid antibody syndrome, arterial dissections and intraluminal clot syndromes. Evaluation and treatment of associated risk factors in all categories needs greater emphasis.