Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 11, 2026

Interventional Diagnostic Procedure: A Practical Guide for the Assessment of Coronary Vascular Function
Published on: March 15, 2022
Anti-platelet agents in pediatric cardiac practice
Sweta Mohanty1, Balu Vaidyanathan
1Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Kochi, Kerala, India.
Insights
This review examines anti-platelet drug use in pediatric cardiac patients, highlighting that many current treatments lack robust evidence and are often based on adult data.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Cardiology
- Pharmacology
- Thrombosis Management
Background:
- Pediatric cardiac patients often require antithrombotic therapy for various conditions.
- Current treatment guidelines are frequently based on empirical data or extrapolated from adult studies.
- Evidence supporting specific anti-platelet drug indications in children is often limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the existing literature on anti-platelet drug utilization in pediatric cardiac patients.
- To assess the evidence base for current antithrombotic strategies in this population.
- To identify gaps in knowledge regarding anti-platelet therapy in pediatric cardiac conditions.
Main Methods:
- Comprehensive literature search of relevant databases.
- Systematic review of studies investigating anti-platelet agents in pediatric cardiac care.
- Analysis of study designs, patient populations, and reported outcomes.
Main Results:
- Limited controlled studies exist specifically for pediatric anti-platelet drug use.
- Many indications are extrapolated from adult data, lacking pediatric-specific validation.
- Variability in drug choice and dosing is observed across different pediatric cardiac conditions.
Conclusions:
- There is a significant need for high-quality, pediatric-focused research on anti-platelet therapies.
- Evidence-based guidelines are crucial to optimize antithrombotic treatment in children with heart disease.
- Further investigation is required to establish efficacy and safety profiles of anti-platelet drugs in this vulnerable population.
Abstract:
Pediatric patients with a variety of congenital and acquired cardiac conditions receive antithrombotic therapy. Many of the indications are empirical, and have either not been proven in controlled studies or are extrapolated from adult studies. This article reviews the current available literature regarding the use of anti-platelet drugs in the pediatric cardiac population.
Related Concept Videos
Antiplatelet Drugs: Prostaglandin Synthesis, P2Y12 and Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa Inhibitors
Prostaglandin synthesis inhibitors, exemplified by the widely known aspirin, wield their power by irreversibly acetylating...
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Distribution
Coronary Artery Disease V: Interprofessional Care
Peripheral Artery Disease III: Interprofessional Care
Treatment for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Prostacyclin Receptor Agonists
These agonists bind to the IPR receptor situated on the plasma membrane of the pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells. This binding triggers a cascade of reactions known as the GS-AC-cAMP-PKA pathway. This pathway results in the relaxation of smooth muscle...

