[Aspirin and prevention of cardiovascular risk].
OBJECTIVE
Aspirin, a potent platelet inhibitor, is widely used in patients with cardiovascular diseases. Platelet aggregation is the cornerstone of acute atherothrombotic complications.
Aspirin showed significant benefits when administered in patients with acute myocardial infarction or unstable angina, and also when used for secondary prevention in patients with known coronary artery disease. Aspirin has been evaluated in primary prevention, with interesting results in high-risk patients. Finally, aspirin can be used in some patients with supraventricular arrhythmias or with mechanical valves.


CONCLUSIONS
Further investigation concerning the exact role of aspirin in primary prevention is currently being done. The association of aspirin with new antiplatelet agents in patients with acute coronary syndromes has shown interesting results.
Karila-Cohen
D
D
Service de cardiologie, hôpital Bichat, Paris, France.
Gabriel Steg
P
P
D000787:Angina Pectoris / Q000188:drug therapy; D000789:Angina, Unstable / Q000188:drug therapy; D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000188:drug therapy; D001167:Arteritis / Q000188:drug therapy; D001241:Aspirin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011322:Primary Prevention; D012307:Risk Factors
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D001241:Aspirin