Pleiotropic effects of platelet P2Y12 receptor inhibitors: fact or fiction?

P2Y12 inhibitors constitute an essential part of the antithrombotic treatment, with proven clinical benefit in acute coronary syndromes and after percutaneous coronary interventions. Substantial evidence has emerged that, apart from their primary antiplatelet action, P2Y12 receptor inhibitors exhibit several off-target effects. In this review, we present the supporting evidence of P2Y12 inhibitors' pleiotropic actions, discuss their clinical implications and underscore the necessity for further research on this issue.