title: Antiplatelet drugs in cardiovascular diseases.
abstract: Platelets play a key role in the pathogenesis of atherothrombotic conditions, e.g. acute coronary syndromes, cerebrovascular and peripheral vascular events. Antiplatelet agents interfere with platelet activation and aggregation and, as such, would be expected to modify the natural history of cardiovascular disease. In this review we explore the evidence to support the use of such drugs, singly or in combination, in a variety of situations characterised by thrombosis and summarise some of the concerns inherent in their use.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Singleton Hospital, Swansea, UK.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Weston
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Rao
mesh_terms: D001241:Aspirin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000517:prevention & control; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004351:Drug Resistance; D006801:Humans; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000517:prevention & control; D016491:Peripheral Vascular Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D020521:Stroke / Q000517:prevention & control; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D001241:Aspirin