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Updated: May 21, 2026

A Fibrin-Enriched and tPA-Sensitive Photothrombotic Stroke Model
Published on: June 4, 2021
Discovery, development and effectiveness of coagulation-inhibiting drugs for stroke therapy
Monika Killer1, Eugen Trinka, Jörg Kraus
1Head of Neurointervention, University Clinic Salzburg, Christian Doppler Clinic, Department of Neurology, Ignaz Harrer Str. 79, 5020 Salzburg, Austria +43 662 4483 56058 ; +43 662 3924 ; m.killer@salk.at.
Introduction:
Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the US and the leading cause of major disability. A large variety of drugs and new therapeutic strategies are the basis for modern stroke therapy. There is scientific evidence for the effectiveness of only a few coagulation-inhibiting drugs for stroke prevention and treatment, but a lot of clinical trials have been conducted or are ongoing in order to gain more scientific data on stroke management and therapy.
Areas Covered:
This paper gives a general overview of modern coagulation-inhibiting drugs discovered and investigated for prevention or acute stroke therapy and offers prospects of future therapy options.
Expert Opinion:
Without the development of more cost-effective future therapies and implementation of extended prevention programs, stroke will remain the leading cause of disability. There is still a strong need for the discovery of novel drug therapies that effectively avoid blood clotting and stroke without increasing the risk of hemorrhage.
Insights
This review covers modern antithrombotic drugs for stroke prevention and treatment. Future therapies must balance clotting prevention with reduced hemorrhage risk for better stroke management.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Stroke is a leading cause of death and disability in the US.
- Current stroke therapy relies on various drugs and strategies, with limited evidence for many.
- Ongoing clinical trials aim to expand scientific data on stroke management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide an overview of current antithrombotic drugs for stroke prevention and treatment.
- To discuss future therapeutic prospects in stroke management.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of modern coagulation-inhibiting drugs.
- Analysis of ongoing and completed clinical trials for stroke therapy.
Main Results:
- Limited number of antithrombotic drugs have proven efficacy for stroke.
- Extensive research is underway to identify more effective treatments.
Conclusions:
- Cost-effective therapies and enhanced prevention programs are crucial to reduce stroke's impact.
- Novel drugs are needed to inhibit blood clotting and prevent stroke without increasing bleeding risk.
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