Platelet activation and atherothrombosis

Platelets are essential for primary hemostasis and repair of the endothelium, but they also play a key role in the development of acute coronary syndromes and contribute to cerebrovascular events. In addition, they participate in the process of forming and extending atherosclerotic plaques. Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory process,1 and inflammation is an important component of acute coronary syndromes.2 The relation between chronic and acute vascular inflammation is unclear, but platelets are a source of inflammatory mediators,3 and the activation of platelets by inflammatory triggers may be a critical component of atherothrombosis.4 This review article describes the role of platelets in atherothrombosis by integrating our knowledge of basic mechanisms with the results of mechanistic studies in humans and clinical trials of inhibitors of platelet function.