Pearls of Wisdom: Stroke-Induced Aphasia

Martha sustained an ischemic stroke 3 years ago. According to her caregiver, her primary complication is expressive aphasia. She is currently taking a statin and clopidogrel. After 1 year of speech therapy, she is considered at maximum benefit for that modality. Her blood pressure is controlled at 125/75 mm Hg with hydrochlorothiazide.

What treatment would you consider at this point?

A. Olanzapine
B. Duloxetine
C. Zolpidem
D. Ibandronate
E. None. Aphasia is not amenable to medication at this point.

What is the correct answer?
(Answer and discussion on next page)

Louis Kuritzky, MD, has been involved in medical education since the 1970s. Drawing upon years of clinical experience, he has crafted each year for almost 3 decades a collection of items that are often underappreciated by clinicians, yet important for patients. These “Pearls of Wisdom” often highlight studies that may not have gotten traction within the clinical community and/or may have been overlooked since their time of publishing, but warrant a second look.

Martha sustained an ischemic stroke 3 years ago. According to her caregiver, her primary complication is expressive aphasia. She is currently taking a statin and clopidogrel. After 1 year of speech therapy, she is considered at maximum benefit for that modality. Her blood pressure is controlled at 125/75 mm Hg with hydrochlorothiazide.

What treatment would you consider at this point?

A. Olanzapine
B. Duloxetine
C. Zolpidem
D. Ibandronate
E. None. Aphasia is not amenable to medication at this point.

What is the correct answer?
(Answer and discussion on next page)

Louis Kuritzky, MD, has been involved in medical education since the 1970s. Drawing upon years of clinical experience, he has crafted each year for almost 3 decades a collection of items that are often underappreciated by clinicians, yet important for patients. These “Pearls of Wisdom” often highlight studies that may not have gotten traction within the clinical community and/or may have been overlooked since their time of publishing, but warrant a second look.