PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Kailash Krishnan
AU  - Zhe Kang Law
AU  - Jatinder S Minhas
AU  - Philip M Bath
AU  - Thompson G Robinson
AU  - Nikola Sprigg
AU  - Akash Mavilakandy
AU  - Timothy J England
AU  - David Eveson
AU  - Amit Mistri
AU  - Jesse Dawson
AU  - Jason P Appleton
TI  - Antiplatelet treatment for acute secondary prevention of non-cardioembolic minor stroke / transient ischaemic attack: an update for the acute physician
AID  - 10.7861/clinmed.2021-0597
DP  - 2022 Sep 01
TA  - Clinical Medicine
PG  - 449--454
VI  - 22
IP  - 5
4099  - http://www.rcpjournals.org/content/22/5/449.short
4100  - http://www.rcpjournals.org/content/22/5/449.full
SO  - Clin Med2022 Sep 01; 22
AB  - Acute stroke is the leading cause of disability in the UK and a leading cause of mortality worldwide. The majority of patients with ischaemic stroke present with minor deficits or transient ischaemic attack (TIA), and are often first seen by patient-facing clinicians. Urgent evaluation and treatment are important as many patients are at high risk of major vascular events and death within hours to days after the index event. This narrative review summarises the evidence on four antiplatelet treatments for non-cardioembolic stroke prevention: aspirin, clopidogrel, dipyridamole and ticagrelor. Each of these drugs has a unique mechanism and has been tested as a single agent or in combination. Aspirin, when given early is beneficial and short-term treatment with aspirin and clopidogrel has been shown to be more effective in high-risk TIA / minor stroke. This review concludes by highlighting gaps in evidence, including scope for future trials that could potentially change clinical practice.