Abstract
Antiplatelet therapy has been successful in reducing mortality and morbidity in acute myocardial infarction. Recent advances in understanding the molecular basis of the role of platelets in cardiovascular thrombosis have enabled the development of new agents with the potential to further reduce mortality and morbidity. This article reviews the role of platelets in haemostasis and cardiovascular thrombosis, and discusses the benefits and limitations of current and investigational antiplatelet agents in the treatment of cardiovascular disease.
MeSH terms
-
Animals
-
Blood Platelets / drug effects
-
Blood Platelets / metabolism
-
Cardiovascular Diseases / drug therapy*
-
Cardiovascular Diseases / mortality
-
Cardiovascular Diseases / physiopathology
-
Clinical Trials as Topic
-
Drug Design
-
Drugs, Investigational
-
Hemostasis / physiology
-
Humans
-
Myocardial Infarction / drug therapy
-
Myocardial Infarction / mortality
-
Myocardial Infarction / physiopathology
-
Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / adverse effects
-
Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / pharmacology*
-
Thrombosis / drug therapy*
-
Thrombosis / mortality
-
Thrombosis / physiopathology
Substances
-
Drugs, Investigational
-
Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors