title: Prevention of cardiovascular disease in type-2 diabetes: how to improve the clinical efficacy of aspirin.
abstract: Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and its thrombotic complications are the principal causes of morbidity and mortality in patients with type-2 diabetes. Aspirin reduces the risk of thrombotic events in a broad range of patients with vascular disease and, in selected individuals, is beneficial for primary prevention. Although recommended by existing guidelines, in secondary and in primary prevention trials the clinical efficacy of low-dose aspirin in patients with diabetes appears to be substantially lower than in individuals without diabetes. In this review, we discuss possible mechanisms that may contribute to reduce the antithrombotic activity of aspirin in diabetes. We also discuss adjuvant therapies used in diabetic patients that may potentially improve the antithrombotic efficacy of aspirin.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Vascular Biology and Pharmacology, Consorzio Mario Negri Sud, Via Nazionale, 66030 S. Maria Imbaro, Chieti, Italy. evangelista@negrisud.it
authors.forename: Virgilio
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Evangelista
authors.forename: Licia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Totani
authors.forename: Serenella
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rotondo
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lorenzet
authors.forename: Gianni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tognoni
authors.forename: Giorgia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: De Berardis
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nicolucci
mesh_terms: D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001241:Aspirin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D048909:Diabetes Complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications*; D004351:Drug Resistance; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000188:drug therapy; D045162:Thiazolidinediones / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D045162:Thiazolidinediones; D001241:Aspirin