Platelet Function Assays in Stroke Management

Carlos A. Molina MD, PhD Magdy H. Selim MD, PhD Section Editors: A WORD FROM THE EDITORS: First, we would like to thank Dr Marc Fisher for asking us to be the editors of this section, and Drs Geoffrey Donnan and Stephen Davis for their contribution over the past several years. Second, we encourage the readers to contact us directly with their feedback or suggestions for future topics. The Case: A patient presents with a recurrent lacunar infarct. He was already taking a baby aspirin. The Questions: (1) Should the dose of aspirin be increased to 325 mg or should aspirin be changed to another antiplatelet agent? (2) Should platelet function assays be used to guide treatment? The Controversy: The use of platelet function assays may help to determine appropriate antiplatelet treatment options in a patient with recurrent stroke on a baby aspirin. Antiplatelets, especially aspirin, remain the main cornerstone therapy for ischemic stroke prevention. The question always arises in everyday practice of what to do when a patient has a …