Pharmacotherapeutic options for coronary thrombosis treatment: where are we today?

INTRODUCTION

Advances in pharmacotherapy for coronary thrombosis treatment and prevention have transformed the clinical outcomes of patients with coronary artery disease but increased the complexity of therapeutic decision-making. Improvements in percutaneous coronary intervention techniques and stent design have reduced the incidence of thrombotic complications, which consequently has increased the challenge of adequately powering clinical trials of novel antithrombotic strategies for efficacy outcomes. Knowledge of the pathophysiology of coronary thrombosis and the characteristics of antithrombotic drugs can help with therapeutic decisions.

AREAS COVERED: This review covers the pathophysiology of coronary thrombosis and the mechanisms of action of drugs developed for its treatment, provides an overview of the key issues in decision-making, and highlights key areas for further work in order to guide clinicians on how to individualize risk management and address gaps in the evidence base.

EXPERT OPINION: Individualization of antithrombotic therapy regimens has become a vital part of optimizing risk management in people with coronary thrombosis. A critical appraisal of the strengths and limitations of available drugs and the evidence supporting the use of different antithrombotic combinations is intended to provide direction to clinicians and point the way toward further improvements in pharmacotherapy for coronary thrombosis treatment and prevention.