[Strategies for antiplatelet therapy-drug-fixed method and suppression-fixed method].

The strategies for antiplatelet therapy and recent trends in the research field are reviewed. In addition to the approach to finding new drugs, basic research on the function of the platelet which should be suppressed and on how drugs should be used, is required for the improvement of the efficacy of antiplatelet therapy. Our approach to suppression-fixed antiplatelet therapy which is in contrast with the previous drug-fixed method and is based on a principle that aggregation and release are strongly suppressed by the use of aspirin plus ticlopidine close to the limit, found observations on primary platelet dysfunction is described. Preliminary results of this on the prevention of stroke indicate that recurrence was 0.88% per year in contrast with the 4.3% in a group with normal platelet function and 5-15% in groups without antithrombotic therapy in Japan.