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Updated: Jul 10, 2026

A Thrombotic Stroke Model Based On Transient Cerebral Hypoxia-ischemia
Published on: August 18, 2015
Platelets, arterial thrombosis and cerebral ischemia
1Cardiovascular Research Center, CSIC-ICCC, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, UAB, Barcelona, Spain. LBadimon@csic-iccc.org
Insights
Atherosclerosis is a progressive arterial disease leading to atherothrombosis. Antiplatelet drugs are crucial in preventing atherothrombotic events by targeting platelet activity.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Pathophysiology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Atherosclerosis is a systemic, lifelong disease that progresses asymptomatically until clinical manifestation.
- Atherothrombosis, a consequence of atherosclerosis, underlies major cardiovascular events like heart attack and stroke.
- Recent research has significantly advanced the understanding of atherothrombotic disease pathophysiology.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the pathophysiology of atherothrombotic disease.
- To highlight the role of atherosclerosis progression in clinical manifestations.
- To emphasize the importance of platelets in atherothrombotic events.
Main Methods:
- Review of experimental, clinical, and pathological investigations.
- Analysis of large-scale clinical trials on antiplatelet therapy.
- Pathophysiological examination of plaque disruption and thrombus formation.
Main Results:
- Atherosclerosis progresses silently, leading to atherothrombosis.
- Plaque rupture and subsequent thrombus formation are key mechanisms.
- Antiplatelet drugs significantly reduce nonfatal atherothrombotic events.
Conclusions:
- Platelets play a critical role in arterial atherothrombosis.
- Understanding atherosclerosis progression is vital for managing atherothrombotic disease.
- Antiplatelet therapy is a cornerstone in preventing atherothrombotic complications.
Abstract:
Atherosclerosis is a systemic disease that starts early in life, asymptomatically progressing though adulthood, until clinically manifested. In the last few years, experimental, clinical and pathological investigation has led us to a better knowledge of the pathophysiology of atherothrombotic disease. Atherothrombosis is the result of atherosclerosis progression, and its potentially life-threatening clinical consequences include coronary artery disease, cerebrovascular disease and peripheral artery disease. These events are mostly secondary to atherosclerotic plaque disruption and subsequent in situ thrombus formation which may be embolized and dragged by the arterial flow until occluding distal vessels. The demonstrated beneficial role of antiplatelet drugs in reducing the incidence of nonfatal events in many large clinical trials has demonstrated the major role of platelets in the atherothrombotic process in the arterial tree.
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