[Treatment of the acute phase of cerebral infarction]

Although no treatment has yet been shown to be effective during the acute phase of cerebral ischaemia, several treatments are currently under investigation: treatments designed to improve cerebral perfusion (fibrinolytics) or limit cellular lesions and protect cerebral metabolism (neuroprotectors, antioxidants). However, these treatments can only be effective when they are started very early, during the first hours following onset of ischaemia. At the present time, simple measures must be rapidly applied to limit extension of ischaemia and to prevent the development of complications, in order to improve the functional prognosis.