Antiplatelet Therapy for Acute Ischaemic Stroke

In patients with acute ischaemic stroke (AIS),platelets become activated. Antiplatelet therapy can reduce the risk of early recurrent ischaemic stroke and reduce the volume of brain damaged. This might reduce the risk of early death and improve long-term outcome in survivors. However,antiplatelet therapy might also increase the risk of non-fatal or symptomatic intracranial haemorrhage. Aspirin was the most common used antiplatelet agent with more evidence and that was recommended by current stroke therapy guidelines in different countries. For patients with AIS who are not receiving thrombolysis,early aspirin therapy(150 to 300 mg/d) was recommended. There was no sufficient evidence about the safety and efficacy of administration of clopidogrel,glycoprotein (GP) Ⅱb/Ⅲa inhibitors,dipyridamole,cilostazol for the treatment of patients with AIS. The safety and efficacy of administration of combined antiplatelet agents for AIS need to be further studied.