[Current situation of neuroprotection in stroke]

Focal and global brain ischemic injury represents one of the most important causes of human neurological disability and mortality in developed countries. It has been long recognized that the two major therapeutic approaches to ischemic stroke involve improving blood flow and the reduction or blockade of the cellular and subcellular consequences of ischemic injury. The important advances experienced during the last decade on the knowledge of pathophysiological mechanisms of brain ischemia and the development of new drugs give us a glimmer of hope in the treatment and they allow us to reject the nihilistic attitudes. We review the new pharmacological approaches to cytoprotective therapy for acute ischemic stroke and the results of reported clinical trials.