Antiplatelets are a group of medicines that stop blood cells (called platelets) from sticking together and forming a blood clot. Antiplatelet medicines can stop blood clots from forming.

What is antiplatelet therapy?

Antiplatelets are a group of medicines that stop blood cells (called platelets) from sticking together and forming a blood clot.

Whenever there is an injury in your body, platelets are sent to the site of the injury, where they clump together to form a blood clot. This stops the bleeding in your body. If you have a cut or a wound, this is a good thing. But, sometimes, platelets will clump together inside a blood vessel that is injured, swollen (inflamed), or that has plaque build-up (atherosclerosis). When this happens, the platelets can cause a blood clot to form inside the vessel. Platelets can also cause blood clots to form around stents, artificial heart valves, and other devices that are placed inside the heart or blood vessels. Antiplatelet medicines can stop blood clots from forming.

Why do I need antiplatelet therapy?

Patients are usually given antiplatelets if they have a history of

• Coronary artery disease (CAD)
• Heart attack
• Angina
• Stroke or transient ischemic attacks (TIAs)
• Peripheral vascular disease (PVD)

Antiplatelets may also be given to patients during and after angioplasty and stent procedures and after coronary artery bypass surgery. Some patients with atrial fibrillation or valve disease also take antiplatelets.

Are there different types of antiplatelet medicines?

There are many different types of antiplatelet medicines. Even though each type works in a different way, all antiplatelet medicines help to keep platelets from sticking together and forming blood clots.

• Aspirin is the most common type of antiplatelet medicine. Some patients who are recovering from a heart attack are given aspirin to prevent further blood clots from forming in the coronary arteries. Low-dose aspirin (sometimes called “baby aspirin”) may prevent heart attacks and strokes in people who take it every day.
• Adenosine diphosphate (ADP) receptor inhibitors are usually given to patients who have had a recent heart attack or stroke, because these patients have a greater risk of having another heart attack or stroke. Doctors may also give this medicine to patients with mitral valve disease or those who have had heart valve replacement. Some patients with peripheral vascular disease (PVD) may also be good candidates for ADP receptor inhibitors, because poor blood circulation in the legs can lead to blood clots.
• Adenosine reuptake inhibitors are usually given to patients in combination with an anticoagulant. Patients may also take this type of antiplatelet therapy in combination with aspirin if they have a heart condition that increases their risk of blood clots.
• Glycoprotein IIB/IIIA inhibitors are given by an intravenous (IV) needle directly into the bloodstream, so patients must be in the hospital to receive them. Patients usually receive this type of antiplatelet medicine to prevent blood clots that sometimes form during angioplasty and stent procedures. They are also used in patients with angina who are going to have an angioplasty or stent procedure.
• Phosphodiesterase inhibitors is most often used in patients with PVD to reduce leg pain that comes with walking (called intermittent claudication). Patients with PVD have a greater risk of developing blood clots in their legs, so some PVD patients need to take antiplatelet medicines. Patients with heart failure should not take this type of antiplatelet medicine, because studies have shown it can lead to death.