title: Platelet interactions as therapeutic targets for prevention of atherothrombosis.
abstract: Physiologically, platelets perform important tasks to maintain the homeostasis of the vascular wall and the surrounding environment. In pathologic conditions, however, platelets contribute to the formation of atherosclerotic plaques as well as to atherothrombotic events (i.e., acute myocardial infarction). This review aims to elucidate the role of platelets in atherogenesis and atherothrombosis and to provide an insight into current and future strategies for platelet inhibition.
authors.affiliation: Universitätsklinik für Kardiologie, Angiologie & Pneumologie, Universitätsklinikum Magdeburg, Leipziger Strasse 44, Magdeburg 39120, Germany. jan.smid@med.ovgu.de
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Smid
authors.forename: Ruediger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Braun-Dullaeus
authors.forename: Meinrad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gawaz
authors.forename: Harald F
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Langer
mesh_terms: D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D003328:Coronary Thrombosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000502:physiology; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000188:drug therapy; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000502:physiology; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors