Pharmacological options in stroke

Abstract

In my M.D. thesis, Pharmacological Options in Stroke, completed at the University of Debrecen, Faculty of Medicine, I explore drug-based strategies for managing stroke, covering both acute treatment and prevention. I highlight stroke’s immense global impact—12.2 million cases and 6.6 million deaths in 2019—stressing its urgency and the distinct causes of ischemic (85% of cases) and hemorrhagic strokes. In Chapter 2, I detail acute treatments like IV thrombolysis with alteplase for ischemic stroke and blood pressure management with labetalol or nicardipine for both types, plus intracranial pressure control for hemorrhagic cases using mannitol or hypertonic saline. In Chapter 3, I focus on prevention, discussing antihypertensives (e.g., ACE inhibitors), antiplatelets (e.g., aspirin, clopidogrel), anticoagulants (e.g., DOACs like apixaban), and statins, all customized to stroke origins. I emphasize personalized, evidence-based pharmacology, backed by AHA and ESO guidelines, to improve patient outcomes. Finally, I advocate for more research to refine these methods, hoping to enhance the lives of stroke survivors.