[Anti-platelet aggregating drugs in the prevention of thromboembolic diseases]

The treatment and prevention of arterial thrombosis have been improved in recent years by the use of drugs acting on certain platelet characteristics, such as clumping capacity, adhesivity, release of factors 3 & 4, and survival. Many substances have been proposed for clinical employment. Mechanisms of action are discussed on the basis of personal experience, particularly with dipyrimadol and beta-blocking drugs. It would seem that the best results are obtainable with drugs whose effect on platelet clumping comes from stablisation of the membrane, such as the non-steroid anti-inflammatory preparations, in association with drugs than enhance intraplatelet cyclic AMP.