Recent Advances in Stroke Prevention

Abstract

Stroke is the most important cause of death and disability in China, and most strokes (~80-90%) are preventable. Recent advances in a number of measures to reduce stroke are discussed in this narrative review, including smoking cessation, a Mediterranean pattern of eating, salt restriction, B vitamins to lower homocysteine, antiplatelet therapy, anticoagulants and the management of patent foramen ovale and carotid stenosis. Lowering of homocysteine with B vitamins does prevent stroke, but patients with variants of MTHFR require higher doses of folic acid, and because of harm from cyanocobalamin among persons with renal impairment, we should use methylcobalamin or oxocobalamin instead. Aspirin resistance appears to be due to enteric coating, and ＞ 50% of Chinese have a reduced response to clopidogrel because of variants of CYP2C19, required to convert the prodrug to its active form. Direct acting oral anticoagulants (DOACs) have revolutionized anticoagulation; important differences among the DOACs are discussed. Percutaneous closure of patent foramen ovale (PFO) does reduce the risk of stroke, but in most patients with stroke and PFO the PFO is incidental; it is important to identify the subgroup in whom paradoxical embolism was the probable cause of the stroke. Some patients with PFO would be better treated with anticoagulants because of the risk of pulmonary embolism. Carotid stenting carries a higher risk in older patients, and most patients with asymptomatic carotid stenosis would be better treated with intensive medical therapy than with either stenting or endarterectomy; the few who could benefit can be identified.