Antiplatelet Drugs in Thrombotic Disease

Vascular disorders, such as strokes and coronaries, are a major cause of mortality and morbidity. The basic problem is that arteries become occluded initially by atheroma and subsequently by blood clots. Platelets are an important intermediate in this process and drugs which modify their activity could help in the prevention and management of vascular disease. This paper reviews the role of platelets, describes the drugs which can modify their function, and presents some of the clinical data which suggests that they have a useful role in this important group of diseases.