Role of antiplatelet therapy across the spectrum of patients with coronary artery disease.

Antiplatelet therapy is an important treatment modality across the spectrum of coronary artery disease manifestations. The role of aspirin in primary prevention continues to be refined. Although monotherapy with either aspirin or clopidogrel has been validated in secondary prevention, for high-risk patients such as those with acute coronary syndromes or requiring percutaneous coronary intervention, dual antiplatelet therapy appears to be most beneficial. Questions remain about the appropriate duration of dual antiplatelet therapy, especially in patients with prior ischemic events or in those receiving first-generation drug-eluting stents, with indirect evidence suggesting longer durations are better.