[Antiaggregant treatment: present and future]

To present current information on the use of antiaggregant agents and the possibilities of their further development.

Aspirin is an established treatment for the prevention of cerebrovascular accidents (CVA) in patients with transitory ischemic attacks (TIA) or minor CVA. This agent reduces the risk by 20%. Ticlopidine has a slightly greater antiaggregant effect than Aspirin, but has the disadvantage of being more expensive and having serious haematological effects such as thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. In combination with Aspirin, ticlopidine is valuable in maintaining coronary stents permeable. Dipyridamole, used in combination with Aspirin reduces the risk of CVA by 37% which is more than either drug used alone. Clopidogrel, chemically related to ticlopidine, has a slightly greater protective effect without the serious haematological side-effects of the latter. Use of Aspirin in CVA, alone or combined with subcutaneous heparin, is effective in the early secondary prevention of CVAs. Future development of antiaggregant treatment includes various aspects, such as the use of Aspirin in primary and secondary prevention of CVA, its value in combination with other antiaggregant, antithrombotic and neuroprotector agents.

Antiaggregant agents have meant a great advance in the treatment of CVA. In view of the relatively modest degree of protection given by Aspirin, future strategies will probably include combining it with other antiaggregant agents, antithrombotic drugs and neuroprotectors.