[Antiplatelet therapy in acute coronary syndromes without ST segment elevation].

The pathophysiology of acute coronary syndromes involves plaque rupture or fissure with platelet activation and aggregation. Antiplatelet therapy is a cornerstone in the management of unstable angina and non-ST elevation myocardial infarction. Three classes of antiplatelet drugs have been found useful in the management of these patients: aspirin, thienopyridines and glycoprotein IIb/IIIa antagonists. There is a great amount of interpatient variability in response to these antiplatelet agents, and this variability may affect outcomes. It is needed to prescribe appropriate antiplatelet therapies according to potential benefit in reducing death and cardiovascular events vs the bleeding risks these agents cause. Antiplatelet drugs are the subjects of continued intensive investigation.