Advances in Treating Stroke and Transient Ischemic Attack

During 2018, important stroke studies covered the spectrum from transient ischemic attack (TIA) to major disabling strokes.

In the randomized POINT trial, researchers examined whether early dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) improves outcomes in patients with high-risk TIA or minor ischemic stroke not caused by conditions such as atrial fibrillation or carotid stenosis (which mandate other interventions). Nearly 5000 such patients received daily treatment with low-dose aspirin alone or low-dose aspirin plus clopidogrel (600 mg loading dose, followed by 75 mg daily), starting within 12 hours of symptom onset. At 90 days, the incidence of recurrent ischemic stroke was significantly lower with DAPT than with aspirin alone (4.6% vs. 6.3%), whereas…