Pharmacology of Platelet Adhesion and Aggregation

Abstract

At the injured vessel wall, blood platelets become activated and adhere to the subendothelial surface as well as to each other. These cellular adhesion processes are required for primary hemostasis, but can also lead to thrombosis. Considerable progress has been made during recent years in understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying platelet activation and adhesion. This knowledge will drive future efforts towards the development of new antiplatelet drugs for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases