Antiplatelet Therapy: Uses and Side Effects

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What is antiplatelet therapy?

Antiplatelets are medications that prevent platelets from sticking together and forming blood clots. They’re a common treatment for people at risk of heart attack or stroke. The major risk with antiplatelet therapy is excessive bleeding.

What are antiplatelets & how do they work?

Antiplatelets are medicines that stop cells in the blood (platelets) from sticking together and forming a clot. A blood clot can lead to a heart attack or stroke. Aspirin is the most common antiplatelet. At a low dose, aspirin reduces inflammation in the arteries. You may be put on aspirin to lower your risk of getting heart disease.

Should antiplatelet therapy be used in primary prevention?

In primary prevention (patients with cardiovascular risk factors but no documented events, symptoms or angiographic disease), there is little evidence of benefit of any antiplatelet therapy, and such therapy carries the risk of excess bleeding.

Does antiplatelet therapy prevent recurrent events?

As such, antiplatelet therapy plays a very important role in preventing recurrent events in the individuals who are affected by one of these conditions. Until recently, the repertoire of antiplatelet therapy was limited to aspirin and clopidogrel.

What Is Antiplatelet Therapy

1. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/drugs/22955-antiplatelet-drugs
2. https://www.heartfoundation.org.nz/your-heart/heart-treatments/medications/antiplatelet-agents/
3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK537062/

Antiplatelet Therapy Information

1. https://aci.health.nsw.gov.au/networks/eci/clinical/clinical-tools/cardiology/anti-platelet-medications
2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antiplatelet_drug
3. https://www.texasheart.org/heart-health/heart-information-center/topics/antiplatelet-therapy/
4. https://informme.org.au/Resources/Antiplatelet-therapy
5. https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/full/10.1161/01.CIR.0000083142.13956.D6