Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 23, 2025

Interventional Diagnostic Procedure: A Practical Guide for the Assessment of Coronary Vascular Function
Published on: March 15, 2022
Patient and Physician Perspectives on the Benefits and Risks of Antiplatelet Therapy for Acute Coronary Syndrome
Marc Cohen1,2, Colin Jones3
1Newark Beth Israel Medical Center, 201 Lyons Avenue at Osborne Terrace, Newark, NJ, USA. marc.cohen@rwjbh.org.
Insights
Patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) on long-term antiplatelet therapy share experiences and concerns. A cardiologist discusses managing ACS, balancing antiplatelet therapy benefits and risks, and overcoming prescribing inertia.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Patient Advocacy
Background:
- Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) requires long-term management, often involving antiplatelet therapy.
- Balancing the benefits and risks of antiplatelet therapy is crucial for patients with ACS.
- Physician perspectives on managing ACS and patient adherence are vital.
Abstract:
This article is co-authored by a patient with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) who is receiving long-term antiplatelet therapy in the USA and a cardiologist who routinely treats patients with ACS. The patient describes his experience from diagnosis to the present day and discusses his concerns regarding treatment and management of the condition, including the balance between the benefits and risks of antiplatelet therapy. The patient also describes his work as an advocate for cardiac health. The physician perspective on treating and managing patients with ACS is provided by a cardiologist based in the USA who is and was not involved in this patient's care. The physician reviews the benefits and risks of antiplatelet therapies for the treatment of patients with ACS and discusses his own clinical experience of managing these patients, including how issues such as treatment adherence, as well as the potential inertia to prescribing certain medications that may be seen among physicians, could be overcome.
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...
Antianginal Drugs: Calcium Channel Blockers and Ranolazine
CCBs, a diverse class that includes dihydropyridines (nifedipine) and diphenylalkylamines (verapamil and diltiazem), exert their effect by blocking calcium channels in cardiac and smooth muscle cells. This...
Treatment for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors and Calcium Channel Blockers
TKIs, such as imatinib (Gleevec), are particularly effective in tackling the growth and mitogenic factors that become upregulated in PAH patients. These factors contribute to the...
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...
Antianginal Drugs: Nitrates and β-Blockers
Organic nitrates, such as nitroglycerin, play a pivotal role. Once metabolized, they liberate nitric oxide, a molecular marvel. Nitric oxide triggers guanylyl cyclase and augments cGMP production. This biochemical cascade orchestrates the relaxation of vascular smooth muscles, ushering in vasodilation and enhancing coronary blood flow....
Anticoagulant Drugs: Low-Molecular-Weight Heparins

