TY - JOUR T1 - Antiplatelet treatment for acute secondary prevention of non-cardioembolic minor stroke / transient ischaemic attack: an update for the acute physician JF - Clinical Medicine JO - Clin Med SP - 449 LP - 454 DO - 10.7861/clinmed.2021-0597 VL - 22 IS - 5 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 Y1 - 2022/09/01 UR - http://www.rcpjournals.org/content/22/5/449.abstract N2 - 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. ER -