Platelet inhibitor therapy for patients with cardiovascular disease: looking toward the future.

Understanding platelet function and the role of platelets in the response to vascular injury has led to the development of novel platelet-inhibiting therapies that have been proven effective in the treatment of acute and chronic vascular disease. Antiplatelet therapies are cornerstone treatments for patients with acute coronary syndromes and have been essential in reducing the acute and subacute ischemic complications of percutaneous coronary intervention. Furthermore, an increased understanding of the pathobiology behind the platelet's role in atherothrombosis has offered up many new avenues of research and many new targets for therapeutic drug development. This review briefly summarizes the state of available anticoagulant and antiplatelet treatments in cardiovascular disease management and provides a perspective on the key issues in developing new antiplatelet strategies in the future.