BACKGROUND Aspirin and P2Y12 antagonists are antiplatelet compounds that are used clinically in patients with thrombosis. However, some patients are 'resistant' to antiplatelet therapy, which increases their risk of developing acute coronary syndromes. These patients often present with an underlying condition that is associated with altered levels of circulating platelet primers and platelet hy...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The effect of previous antiplatelet use on stroke severity is controversial. We assume that this controversy is attributable to its difference according to the stroke mechanism. METHODS Using a prospective stroke registry, patients who were hospitalized because of ischemic stroke and had relevant lesions on MRI were selected. Patients who were using anticoagulants or wh...

BACKGROUND/AIMS Dual antiplatelet therapy has to be used for at least 1 month after placement of bare metal coronary stents and for a minimum of 1 year after placement of drug eluting stents. Because of the higher risk of bleeding, guidelines strongly recommend to delay elective surgery until dual antiplatelet therapy is ended. However, no data are available regarding the bleeding risk in patie...

BACKGROUND Antiplatelet therapy plays a crucial role in the primary and secondary prevention of noncardioembolic ischemic stroke / transient ischemic attacks (IS/TIA). Several antiplatelet agents are available. This review deals with the characteristics of particular antiplatelet agents as well as choice of antiplatelet treatment in various situations, based on the evidence and international re...

OBJECTIVE We performed this study to assess the effect of an antiplatelet agent on the progression of white matter hyperintensities (WMH). METHODS From August 2003 to May 2005, we consecutively enrolled patients who underwent brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for health check-up purposes and showed no significant findings other than WMH of any degree. Patients were divided into two group...

The effectiveness of antiplatelet therapy as primary prophylaxis for thrombosis in low-risk essential thrombocythemia (ET) is not proven. In this study, the incidence rates of arterial and venous thrombosis were retrospectively analyzed in 300 low-risk patients with ET treated with antiplatelet drugs as monotherapy (n = 198) or followed with careful observation (n = 102). Follow-up was 802 and ...

Hemostasis is a tightly regulated physiological sequence of events that maintains vascular integrity and imminent blood loss after vessel injury. Platelets play a critical role in primary hemostasis and in regulation of coagulation. Under physiological conditions, hemostasis and thrombosis are in a fragile equilibrium. Uncontrolled platelet activation leads to intravascular thrombosis and organ...

In patients on chronic oral anticoagulation (OAC) who are undergoing a percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), dual antiplatelet therapy (aspirin and a P2Y12 inhibitor) is required. However, combining dual antiplatelet therapy with OAC increases the risk of bleeding. Newer and stronger P2Y12 inhibitors also add more complexity to the regimen, as these antiplatelet agents are currently recomme...

Unfortunately, venous bypass grafts still have a prominent role in operative coronary revascularization (coronary artery bypass graft [CABG]). Venous grafts develop pathologically occlusive disease that limits the effectiveness of CABG, and antiplatelet drugs following operation may limit this problem. The types and indications of antiplatelet drugs following CABG generate some controversy in t...

BACKGROUND Cilostazol has been widely used to prevent peripheral vascular events, and its antiplatelet mechanisms may different from aspirin and clopidogrel. We hypothesized that cilostazol in addition to aspirin and clopidogrel effectively reduces systemic ischemic events after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in high-risk patients. METHODS In this prospective study, 1,212 patients w...