Patient-specific antiplatelet therapy.
Platelets are key players in thrombosis, and have thus become the main targets in the acute treatment of, as well as in the primary and secondary prevention against, thrombotic cardiovascular diseases. Three main classes of anti-platelet agents are currently available for clinical use: aspirin, the thienopyridines, and the intravenous GPIIb/IIIa antagonists. While these therapies are beneficial in the mean patient population, they may produce adverse effects in selected patient subgroups. In this article, we review the three main classes of antiplatelet drugs, discussing them in terms of the patient characteristics that are likely to influence their overall efficacy and safety.
Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA.
Ian D
ID
Conde
Neal S
NS
Kleiman
D006801:Humans; D010347:Patient Care Planning / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology
D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors