PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Jecko Thachil
TI  - Antiplatelet therapy – a summary for the general physicians
AID  - 10.7861/clinmedicine.16-2-152
DP  - 2016 Apr 01
TA  - Clinical Medicine
PG  - 152--160
VI  - 16
IP  - 2
4099  - http://www.rcpjournals.org/content/16/2/152.short
4100  - http://www.rcpjournals.org/content/16/2/152.full
SO  - Clin Med2016 Apr 01; 16
AB  - Platelets play a very important role in physiological haemostasis and thrombus formation. Platelet aggregation is the key pathophysiological factor in the development of arterial ischaemic events, including coronary artery disease, cerebrovascular accidents and peripheral arterial disease. 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. However, this landscape has changed dramatically with the advent of newer and more potent agents, prasugrel and ticagrelor and also the glycoprotein IIb/IIIa antagonists. This armamentarium is likely to expand further with the advent of protease-activated receptor-1 antagonists and the intravenous cangrelor. This review summarises the different agents available and some practical considerations for their use from a general physician’s perspective.