Salutary effects of aspirin in coronary artery disease are not limited to its platelet inhibitory effects.
Aspirin is widely used in the treatment and prevention of coronary artery disease (CAD). However, other platelet inhibitory agents, which inhibit platelet activation, have not been found to be effective or as effective as aspirin. The discrepancy between the efficacy of these compounds and aspirin suggests that the therapeutic efficacy of aspirin may not be limited to its platelet inhibitory effect. In this review, the basis for a unique place for aspirin in the therapy of patients with CAD is discussed. The author believes that the nonplatelet-mediated effects of aspirin could be more important than the platelet inhibitory effect, or at least may complement the platelet inhibitory effects of aspirin in patients with acute myocardial ischemia and in others undergoing intracoronary procedures.
Mehta
J L
JL
Division of Cardiology, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville 32610-0277, USA.
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001241:Aspirin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D001241:Aspirin