Antiplatelet therapy in acute coronary syndrome

Abstract

Antiplatelet agents have for decades been used to improve outcomes in patients with acute coronary syndromes and have become increasingly valued, not only for their antithrombotic properties but also for their anti-inflammatory effects. The drug class continues to evolve as novel agents with increasingly efficacious antiplatelet actions are identified. This review will discuss antiplatelet agents, including aspirin, the P2Y12 receptor antagonists and the glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors, that are currently used to treat patients with unstable angina and myocardial infarction, focusing on their pharmacological properties and the clinical evidence supporting their use.