Acute ischemic stroke

The only recommended therapy in the acute phase of ischemic stroke is thrombolysis within 4.5-(6) h after symptom onset. For secondary stroke prevention platelet inhibitors or, in cases of cardiac embolism, anticoagulants are used. However, these substances bear significant limitations: either they show only moderate efficacy (platelet inhibitors), or they are associated with a considerable bleeding risk (rt-PA, anticoagulants). Although the majority of strokes are caused by embolic or thrombotic vessel occlusion, strikingly little is known about the pathophysiological role of platelets and their local function in the brain vasculature. The recent development of novel transgenic mouse lines paved the way for the in-depth analysis of the different molecular steps of thrombus formation involving platelets and the plasma coagulation cascade in models of acute ischemic stroke. It was demonstrated that prevention of early platelet adhesion to the damaged vessel wall by blocking the platelet surface receptors GPIb alpha or GPVI dramatically protects against experimental stroke without increasing the frequency of intracranial hemorrhage. Moreover, the critical involvement of the blood coagulation factor XII (FXII)-driven intrinsic coagulation cascade in thrombus formation during the course of ischemic brain damage could be unraveled thereby disproving established concepts of hemostasis. Based on these findings novel pharmacological blockers of GPIb alpha and FXIIa were designed that likewise proved to be safe and effective in animal stroke studies. Those compounds now lay the groundwork for a novel and intriguing concept in ischemic stroke and other thromboembolic diseases: antithrombosis devoid of any bleeding complications. Further preclinical testing is currently ongoing.