[Prevention of stroke].

In the past years, research on cardiovascular prevention was among the fields with the most pronounced medical progress. Actually, a substantial proportion of strokes could be avoided given a strict consideration of the currently available prevention guidelines. The current review summarizes the most compelling studies and meta-analyses on this issue and depicts the main consequences and resulting recommendations. Apart from classic risk factors there is a special focus on new risk concepts including toxic effects of homocystine, the 'iron hypothesis' and the intriguing issues of inflammation and chronic infection. In addition, there will be a dispute on challenges regarding carotid surgery and optimal drug therapy as well as on dietary guidelines.