Platelet-active drugs in the secondary prevention of cardiovascular events: an overview

Experimental and clinical evidence strongly suggests that platelets play an important role in a variety of acute cardiovascular events, as well as in the vascular disease with which they are frequently associated. Hence, there is considerable interest in the use of platelet-active drugs in the prevention of these events. A sound pharmacologic basis for the use of platelet-active agents will require further advances in our understanding of the pathophysiology of cardiovascular events and the pharmacology of these drugs.