title: Pharmacological control of platelet function.
abstract: Advancement in the understanding of the mechanisms of platelet activation, as well as the development of new techniques for studying platelet function, have led to the availability of new classes of platelet inhibiting drugs. Initially, characterization of arachidonic acid metabolism in platelets furthered an understanding of the utility of cyclooxygenase inhibitors, most notably aspirin. The discovery and characterization of platelet receptors such as the adenosine diphosphate (ADP) receptor and glycoprotein IIb/IIIa has been associated with the development of novel classes of anti-platelet drug, such as thienopyridine derivatives and glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor antagonists, respectively. Future development in receptor pathway inhibitors also includes glycoprotein Ib/IX as well as the potential use of platelet signaling pathway inhibitors.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Pharmacology and Medicine, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Clutton
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Folts
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Freedman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001241:Aspirin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019039:Platelet Glycoprotein GPIIb-IIIa Complex / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D058919:Purinergic P2 Receptor Antagonists; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D019039:Platelet Glycoprotein GPIIb-IIIa Complex; D058919:Purinergic P2 Receptor Antagonists; D001241:Aspirin