[Acute stroke management in elderly patients]

Elderly patients represent 30% of all stroke patients but remain at risk of receiving suboptimal acute care. Admission to a stroke unit rather than to a general ward and early rehabilitation are justified in elderly ischemic and hemorraghic stroke patients. Elderly patients with ischemic stroke should be given aspirin within 48 hours as it reduces mortality and rate of recurrent stroke by a small but significant amount. Age alone should not be a barrier to thrombolysis with intravenous tissue plasminogen activator for acute ischemic stroke as benefit of treatment does not seem to be diminished in elderly patients. Coordinated clinical care pathways aare needed to ensure that elderly stroke patients have access to effective treatment.