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Antiplatelet Therapy in Unstable Angina: Rationale, Effectiveness, and Dosage

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Unstable Angina

Abstract

Antiplatelet therapy with aspirin in unstable angina is now based on solid evidence gathered by means of very different investigational methods. The ultimate rationale for this therapeutic approach is provided by the important involvement of platelet activation in the pathogenesis of unstable angina. This aspect is covered in detail elsewhere in this volume (Hamm et al.) and is only summarized here. Second, the basic pharmacology of antiplatelet drugs that have been used in controlled trials in unstable angina are reviewed briefly. Then, the structure and main findings of the large controlled trials that have finally established the clinical benefit from aspirin in unstable angina are discussed. The implications drawn here for clinical practice are based on the combined analysis of these trials in unstable angina. Two antiplatelet trials in the closely related condition of acute myocardial infarction also have some practical bearing in this context. Finally, the benefit from antiplatelet therapy in unstable angina is placed into perspective.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Medizinische Klinik Innenstadt der Universität, Ziemssenstralle 1, 8000, München 2, West Germany

    R. Lorenz

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  1. R. Lorenz
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Universitätskrankenhaus Eppendorf — Kardiologie, Martinistraße 52, 2000, Hamburg 20, Germany

    Walter Bleifeld Professor Dr.  & Christian W. Hamm Privatdozent Dr.  & 

  2. Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’ Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 75 Francis Street, 02115, Boston, MA, USA

    Eugene Braunwald Professor Dr.

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© 1990 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Lorenz, R. (1990). Antiplatelet Therapy in Unstable Angina: Rationale, Effectiveness, and Dosage. In: Bleifeld, W., Hamm, C.W., Braunwald, E. (eds) Unstable Angina. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-61288-6_14

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-61288-6_14

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-64778-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-61288-6

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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