Further Product Information

CONTENTS

Summary
Introduction
Epidemiology
The burden of vascular disease: key facts
Pathophysiology of atherothrombosis
Risk factors for atherothrombosis
Diagnosis
Pharmacological treatment
Clinical guidelines - antiplatelet therapy
Economic impact of CHD
Key points
References

SUMMARY

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is responsible for 40% of all deaths in the UK each year, and consequently, it represents a huge and growing burden on NHS resources. Atherothrombosis (thrombus formation superimposed on disrupted or eroded atherosclerotic plaques) is the underlying pathology responsible for the majority of cases of CVD, and it is the common, final pathway resulting in the clinical manifestations of myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, transient ischaemic attacks (TIA) and critical limb ischaemia. Platelets are intimately involved in the process of atherothrombosis, and play a critical role in the development and progression of atherosclerotic plaques, resulting in the clinical manifestations of CVD.

CVD can be prevented and delayed in many instances. However, such intervention requires effective risk stratification, lifestyle modification and the use of appropriate pharamacological treatments. The mainstay of pharmacological therapy in the management of acute atherothrombotic events and prevention of subsequent events is the use of antiplatelet agents such as aspirin. Indeed, the majority of clinical guidelines place antiplatelet therapy at the forefront of patient management. The availability of new generation antiplatelet agents such as clopidogrel and dipyridamole may provide further improvements in patient management, either given as monotherapy, or in combination with aspirin.

Quick Reference Pages For more information, you can download a free-of-charge Quick Reference Guide to the Clopidogrel in Atherothrombosis issue of Drugs in Context which is designed to give you an insight into the numerous key points of information and practical guidance contained in each issue, via carefully selected quotations taken directly from each part of the publication.