What's new in stroke prevention and treatment

This review summarizes the latest results and developments in stroke prevention and acute treatment studies published in 2004 and 2005. In contrast to primary prevention in men, aspirin did not significantly reduce the risk of myocardial infarction or death from cardiovascular causes in women over 45 years of age. Patients with symptomatic intracranial stenosis do not benefit from secondary prevention with oral anticoagulation. Magnetic resonance-based acute stroke studies with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rtPA) or with desmoteplase, a new thrombolytic agent, showed similar safety and potential benefit beyond the 3-h time window, as with the established inclusion criteria of rtPA. The surgical trial in intracerebral hemorrhage (STICH) failed to demonstrate any benefit for early operative evacuation of hematoma. The authors aim to provide a wide overview of stroke prevention and acute treatment studies published in 2004 and 2005. Relevant journals were hand-searched to compile a broad, but not comprehensive, summary of innovative and clinically relevant findings. A short critical evaluation at the end of selected reviews should encourage the reader to further reading of studies of interest.