title: Acute coronary syndromes: identifying the appropriate patient for prasugrel.
abstract: Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) remains the leading cause of morbidity and mortality. More than half of patients presenting with ACS will experience a recurrent ischemic event; thus, preventing recurrent events is essential to reduce morbidity and mortality associated with ACS. While dual antiplatelet therapy with aspirin and clopidogrel has been the foundation of management for patients presenting with ACS, clopidogrel is limited by delayed antiplatelet effect and a variable patient response. Prasugrel is more potent, has a more rapid and consistent antiplatelet effect, and has been associated with improved outcomes compared with clopidogrel in select patients with ACS. Although prasugrel reduces the risk of recurrent cardiovascular events, it also increases the risk of major bleeding. Careful patient selection will improve the likelihood that patients treated with prasugrel will experience the benefit of this antiplatelet agent with the lowest possible risk of an adverse event. This article reviews the data supporting the use of prasugrel in ACS with an emphasis on characteristics that will help identify the most appropriate patient for this therapy.
authors.affiliation: Harrington-McLaughlin Heart and Vascular Institute, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA.
authors.forename: John C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Stephens
authors.forename: Arman T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Askari
mesh_terms: D054058:Acute Coronary Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control; D000077144:Clopidogrel; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000139:chemically induced; D006801:Humans; D018579:Patient Selection; D010879:Piperazines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000068799:Prasugrel Hydrochloride; D058921:Purinergic P2Y Receptor Antagonists / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D013876:Thiophenes / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013988:Ticlopidine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D010879:Piperazines; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D058921:Purinergic P2Y Receptor Antagonists; D013876:Thiophenes; D000077144:Clopidogrel; D000068799:Prasugrel Hydrochloride; D013988:Ticlopidine