Antiplatelet drugs in cardiovascular prevention: coronary events: acute phase and secondary prevention.

(1) Aspirin reduces acute-phase mortality after myocardial infarction, and also reduces the risk of myocardial infarction and death in patients with unstable angina. Aspirin reduces the risk of myocardial infarction in patients with stable angina and after unstable angina, and the risk of relapse after myocardial infarction. It reduces the risk of complications during coronary angioplasty, and the risk of venous coronary bypass graft occlusion after coronary surgery. (2) The best risk-benefit ratio with aspirin is achieved at a daily dose of 75-350 mg; 160 mg/day is the best-validated dose in the acute phase of myocardial infarction. (3) Aspirin must be combined with a thrombolytic agent in patients with myocardial infarction, and with heparin in patients with unstable angina. During coronary stenting the aspirin + clopidogrel combination may have a better risk-benefit ratio than the aspirin + ticlopidine combination. (4) Clopidogrel can be used when aspirin is contraindicated or poorly tolerated. (5) Oral anticoagulants seem a better option than aspirin after complicated myocardial infarction.