Foundation and sites of action of antithrombotic agents

Victor J Marder1, Michael H Rosove, Dena M Minning

  • 1Vascular Medicine Program, Los Angeles Orthopedic Hospital, and Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, CA, USA. vmarder@laoh.ucla.edu

Thromboembolic disorders are a major cause of morbidity and mortality. As knowledge of the complex interactions between the vessel wall, platelets and coagulation and fibrinolytic enzyme systems increases, new avenues for more effective and safer therapies become evident. In this review, we discuss mechanisms of hemostasis in relation to antithrombotic agents and results of clinical trials using these drugs.

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