Patients at Risk of Ischemic Events; CAST 5 Chinese Acute

odds ratio; PE 5 pulmonary embolism; PFO 5 patent foramen ovale; rpro-UK 5 recombinant pro-urokinase; TASS 5 Ticlopi-dine Aspirin Stroke Study; TIA 5 transient ischemic attack; TOAST 5 Trial of ORG 10172 in Acute Stroke Treatment; tPA 5 tissue plasminogen activator; TTP 5 thrombotic throm-bocytopenic purpura (CHEST 2001; 119:300S–320S) I schemic stroke is a syndrome of multiple etiologies andprotean clinical manifestations. The optimal use of antithrombotic therapies for stroke treatment or preven-tion is guided by the specific pathogenesis (Fig 1, 2) and clinical features. Patients who are at increased risk for ischemic stroke can be identified (Fig 3). Atherosclerosis of the arteries, large and small, that supply the brain is the most common cause of ischemic stroke. Atherosclerosis of the proximal aorta is also a source of atherogenic brai