[Cerebral apoplexy--importance of diagnosis and therapy in acute stroke].

Every day occur about 4 strokes in the Grand-Duchy of Luxemburg. Stroke is the third cause of death and the first cause of acquired handicap. Stroke constitutes a major individual and social problem. Stroke and TIA are neurological emergency conditions that warrant immediate hospitalisation on a stroke unit, where a dedicated equipe of neurologists, nurses, speech and occupational therapists, physiotherapists and social workers in collaboration with other medical and surgical specialties provide up-to-date diagnostic and therapeutic measures. These include the diagnostic work-up of stroke aetiology and the vascular status, monitoring to ensure the maintenance of homeostasis, thrombolysis and revascularisation, antithrombotic drug treatment relying on individual stroke pathophysiology, treatment of risk factors and early rehabilitation. By treatment on a stroke unit, death and disability can be reduced by 27%, in the case of intravenous thrombolysis even by 45%.