Skip Navigation

European Heart Journal 1995 16(Supplement D):10-21; doi:10.1093/eurheartj/16.suppl_D.10
Copyright © 1995 by the European Society of Cardiology.
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow E-letters: Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when E-letters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My Personal Archive
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Right arrow Disclaimer
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Rihal, C. S.
Right arrow Articles by Yusuf, S.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Rihal, C. S.
Right arrow Articles by Yusuf, S.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us  
What's this?

© 1995 The European Society of Cardiology

Advances in antithrombotic drug therapy for coronary artery disease

C. S. Rihal, M. Flather, J. Hirsh and S. Yusuf

McMaster University and Hamilton Civic Hospitals Research Center Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

Compounds which inhibit the coagulation cascade and antagonize platelet function are fundamental to the successful treatment of acute coronary syndromes. In a high proportion of patients with acute myocardial infarction, unstable angina, or sudden cardiac death, the acute ischaemic event is precipitated by intracoromry thrombus. Occlusive or non-occlusive thrombi have been found in the majority of cases, either in vivo or at autopsy. Aspirin and unJracrionuted heparin have been the cornerstones of untithrombotic therapy in such patients for the past decade, but while their benefits have been convincingly demonstrated, there are signiJicant pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic, and clinical limitations. These limitations have provided the impetus for the development of newer antithrombotic agents with several theoretical advantages over aspirin and heparin.

This paper has four aims. First it reviews the pathogenesis of intracoronary thrombi in acute coronary artery syndromes. Second, it outlines the limitations of current antithrombotic therapies. Third, it explores the potential advantages of new antithrombin and antiplatelet compounds, which may be understood and classified by their mechanism of action (Table 1); how the theoretical advantages may translate into clinical practice will be examined. Fourth, the initial clinical experience with these new agents will be reviewed briefly.

Key Words: Myocardial infarction • thrombosis • unstable angina • coronary artery disease • anticoagulation


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us    What's this?


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 HeartHome page
M. Malik
Arrhythmic substrate
Heart, April 1, 2008; 94(4): 402 - 403.
[Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Am J Crit CareHome page
D. K. Moser
"The Rust of Life": Impact of Anxiety on Cardiac Patients
Am. J. Crit. Care., July 1, 2007; 16(4): 361 - 369.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Disclaimer: Please note that abstracts for content published before 1996 were created through digital scanning and may therefore not exactly replicate the text of the original print issues. All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, but the Publisher will not be held responsible for any remaining inaccuracies. If you require any further clarification, please contact our Customer Services Department.