Antiplatelet drugs in cardiovascular prevention: coronary events and stroke: primary prevention.

(1) Aspirin reduces the risk of myocardial infarction in men over 40 with no history of cardiovascular disease, and in hypertensive patients of both sexes over that age. But it does not seem to reduce overall mortality, and its risk-benefit ratio is not very favourable because of its gastrointestinal adverse effects. (2) In patients with symptomatic lower-limb arterial disease, ticlopidine and clopidogrel reduce the risk of coronary events.