ABSTRACT
The last decades of this century have witnessed new and fundamental insights into the pathophysiology of brain ischaemia. As a result, fresh concepts and novel pharmacological interventions have been developed, modifying the popularly held assumption that acute stroke is a discouraging condition for which little can be done. Exciting recent results from research in the acute-stroke field suggest that delivering treatment within the first few hours after onset changes the panorama of expectations. Certain acute therapeutic strategies which to date have shown no solid positive effects continue under development and are expected to provide promising results in the near future. Additionally, interest in secondary stroke prevention has grown owing to the increasing possibilities of stroke survival.
