Oral antiplatelet therapy for secondary prevention of non-cardioembolic ischemic cerebrovascular events

Abstract

Stroke is the leading cause of disability and mortality worldwide. After an acute cerebrovas-cular ischemia, recurrent vascular events, including recurrent stroke or transient ischemic accidents (TIA), occur in around 20% of cases within the first 3 months. In order to minimize this percentage, antiplatelet therapy may play a key role in the management of non-cardioembolic cerebrovascular events. This review will focus on the current evidence of antiplatelet therapies most commonly discussed in practice guidelines and used in clinical practice for the treatment of stroke/TIA com-plications. The antiplatelet therapies most commonly used and discussed are as follows: aspirin, clopidogrel, and ticagrelor.