Abstract
Stroke embodies one of the leading causes of death and disability worldwide. We aimed to provide a comprehensive insight into the effectiveness and safety of antiplatelet agents and anticoagulants in the secondary prevention of ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack. A systematic search for randomized controlled trials, comparing antiplatelet or anticoagulant therapy versus aspirin or placebo among patients with ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack, was performed in order to summarize data regarding the different regimens. Keyword-based searches in the MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library databases were conducted until the 1st of January 2021. Our search explored 46 randomized controlled trials involving ten antiplatelet agents, six combinations with aspirin, and four anticoagulant therapies. The review of the literature reflects that antiplatelet therapy improves outcome in patients with ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack. Monotherapy proved to be an effective and safe choice, especially in patients with a high risk of bleeding. Intensified antiplatelet regimens further improve stroke recurrence; however, bleeding rate increases while mortality remains unaffected. Supplementing the clinical judgment of stroke treatment, assessment of bleeding risk is warranted to identify patients with the highest benefit of treatment intensification.
Highlights
Received: 31 March 2021Accepted: 12 May 2021Published: 15 May 2021Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.Stroke is the second leading cause of death and one of the leading causes of disability worldwide, accounting for approximately 10% of all mortality events [1]
Its efficacy has been evaluated in four randomized controlled trials (RCTs)
In the Tokai Panaldine Aspirin Longterm Study (TOPALS), ticlopidine + ASA dual therapy added no benefit compared with ticlopidine alone [24,25]
Summary
Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. Stroke is the second leading cause of death and one of the leading causes of disability worldwide, accounting for approximately 10% of all mortality events [1]. More than 80% of all strokes are of ischemic origin [3]. The risk of recurrence is the highest among cases where a recent stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) was left untreated. In about 30% of these cases during the following hours and days, a recurrent stroke leads to the worsening of neurological symptoms or even death [4,5]. Residual disability often puts an enormous strain on our economy [6]
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