Antiplatelet Therapy for Acute Coronary Syndromes

Abstract

A common feature of acute coronary syndromes (ACS) is a partial occlusion of major coronary arteries due to atherosclerotic plaque disruption and subsequent thrombus formation. The antiplatelet drug aspirin has been one part of the standard therapy for ACS but has a number of adverse effects such as upper gastrointestinal bleeding and peptic ulceration. New antiplatelet agents, such as the thienopyridine derivatives and glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor antagonists, are potent inhibitors of platelet aggregation and thrombus formation. They reduce cardiac mortality and morbidity in patients with ACS. When used in addition to aspirin and/or heparin, they produce further reductions in cardiac death and myocardial infarction.