title: Antiplatelet therapy for secondary stroke prevention.
abstract: The precise role of antiplatelet therapy in secondary stroke prevention remains a matter of some debate. Although specific antiplatelet agents (notably aspirin, ticlopidine, dipyridamole, and clopidogrel) have been shown to be active in the prevention of secondary stroke, questions remain about the effective dose of these agents and their potential efficacy in combined therapeutic regimens. In addition, haematological and gastrointestinal side-effects of antiplatelet agents remain a significant clinical concern for patients and prescribing physicians. This review article examines research on both monotherapy and combination antiplatelet therapy for secondary stroke prevention, with an emphasis on lessons learned about dosage schedules, treatment protocols, and side-effect profiles.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, Dundee, Scotland, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: C D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Forbes
mesh_terms: D001241:Aspirin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D000077144:Clopidogrel; D004176:Dipyridamole / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006801:Humans; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012307:Risk Factors; D015996:Survival Rate; D013988:Ticlopidine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D004176:Dipyridamole; D000077144:Clopidogrel; D013988:Ticlopidine; D001241:Aspirin