Chronic antithrombotic therapy in post-myocardial infarction patients.
Recent advances in the acute treatment of myocardial infarction (MI) have allowed more to survive the initial event in coronary artery disease. Increasing importance has been placed on secondary-prevention strategies, with more attention directed toward an optimal therapeutic regimen for post-MI patients. When it comes to the subpopulation of the elderly who have had an MI, however, current practice relies less on population-specific evidence and more on extrapolation of current data. This article reviews the pathogenesis of coronary heart disease and MI, and highlights recent major trials that have explored antiplatelet and anticoagulant medications in the chronic treatment of the post-MI population. Special consideration is given to the geriatric community and its unique challenge regarding chronic antithrombotic therapy.
Sodhi
Sandeep
S
Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19102, USA.
Lee
Robert
R
Ezekowitz
Michael
M
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D008134:Long-Term Care; D008297:Male; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic / Q000379:methods; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents