Preface

Stroke is one area of medicine that has greatly evolved over the last few years – this is particularly true for its treatment and prevention. Only 20 years ago acute stroke remained an untreated condition in most instances. It has now become one of the most critical emergency conditions for which sophisticated, new paradigms have been developed. Acute stroke units and teams can now provide the framework to which most modern management and treatment programs can be applied; this has led to a dramatic decrease in mortality, and delayed sequelae and disability. Thrombolytic and antithrombotic treatments constitute the mainstay of the pharmacological approach to acute ischemic stroke therapy

and enable the modification of the course and fate of a large number of stroke victims when they have been referred to hospital in due time. Several antithrombotic agents also have a major place in the stroke prevention strategies, both in the acute and more chronic phases.