title: Antiplatelet therapy: present status and future prospects.
abstract: The excessive accumulation of platelets at sites of vascular injury is a key event in the development of arterial thrombosis, the principal pathogenic mechanism underlying the acute coronary syndromes and ischaemic stroke. In combination, these disorders are the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in the industrialised world and, as a consequence, the platelet is a major therapeutic target in the management of cardiovascular disease. This perspective focuses on the present state of antiplatelet therapy and potential future strategies to improve the safety and efficacy of antiplatelet agents.
authors.affiliation: Australian Centre for Blood Diseases, Monash University, 6th Level, Burnet Building, AMREP Campus, 89 Commercial Road, Melbourne, Victoria 3004, Australia +61 3 9903 0122 ; +61 3 9903 0228 ; Justin.Hamilton@med.monash.edu.au.
authors.forename: Justin R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Hamilton
authors.forename: Zane
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Kaplan
authors.forename: Shaun P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Jackson
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Opat