The role of dipyridamole in the therapy of vascular disease.

The antiplatelet agent dipyridamole is FDA-approved as an adjunct to warfarin for the prevention of thromboembolism in patients receiving prosthetic heart values. It is also prescribed in several other situations, although data supporting these uses remain equivocal. Dipyridamole does not appear to be superior to aspirin alone in the management of patients with cerebral or coronary artery disease nor in maintaining the patency of autologous grafts. Its role in the management of patients who fail aspirin or other antithrombotic therapy remains to be examined. The drug may offer long-term advantages in the prevention of atherogenesis, but this use also warrants future investigation.