Antiplatelet Drug Toxicity

Excerpt

As the prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) escalates worldwide, so does the use of antiplatelet medications in its management. These agents are used to decrease major adverse events due to acute coronary syndromes, peripheral vascular disease, and stroke. Despite a variety of pharmacologic actions, all antiplatelet drugs inhibit platelet activation and aggregation, lowering atherothrombotic related events. Given the relatively narrow pharmacologic actions of antiplatelet drugs, toxicity primarily confines itself to an increased risk of hemorrhage. When compared to individuals not taking antiplatelet medications, patients on an antiplatelet agent have a 1.5 times greater risk of bleeding, and this increases when taking additional antiplatelet agents. The toxicity of salicylates is complex. As such, a separate monograph specifically devoted to salicylate toxicity is available. Salicylates are only briefly mentioned here, primarily in comparing various mechanisms of antiplatelet drugs.