Combination antiplatelet therapy: implications for pharmacists.

OBJECTIVES To present two case reports of patients who received suboptimal oral antiplatelet therapy and to review recent changes in national guidelines for management of acute coronary syndromes. DATA SOURCES Personal observation by the authors, and clinical practice guidelines and related clinical trials of the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology. SUMMARY The American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association revised the guidelines for administration of antiplatelet and anticoagulant therapy in patients with unstable angina and non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction in March 2002. Two cases observed by the authors illustrate the consequences of suboptimal antiplatelet therapy when a combination of two antiplatelet drugs should have been administered. CONCLUSION Evidence from recent randomized, controlled trials led to changes in the national guidelines for administration of oral antiplatelet therapy in patients with acute coronary syndromes. Pharmacists should be aware of these changes and counsel patients about appropriate administration of antiplatelet drugs.