Inhibitors of platelet function in the prevention of arterial thrombosis.

The use of platelet inhibiting drugs in the prevention of arterial thromboembolic occlusive disease demonstrates that only a few trials have been adequately designed to provide conclusive results. Dipyridamole is effective in preventing the thromboembolic complications of prosthetic heart valves and sulfinpyrazone reduces occlusive events in A-V silastic cannulae, while clofibrate is clearly ineffective in secondary prevention of myocardial infarction. No antiplatelet agent has yet been convincingly shown to exert any antithrombotic effect in venous thromboembolism, although the results with hydroxychloroquine deserve further study. Currently, only two antiplatelet drugs, dipyridamole and sulfinpyrazone are clearly proven clinically effective in reducing arterial thromboembolism. The promising results using ASA are under active study.