Ideal Antiplatelet Therapy for Coronary Artery Disease: Focus on Adenosine Diphosphate Receptor Inhibitors

With the increasing prevalence of coronary artery disease, antiplatelet therapy after percutaneous coronary intervention is becoming more important. As such realm is still very dynamic, it is important for clinicians to understand the evolution of antiplatelet therapies and current issues that are yet to be settled in the search for an ideal antiplatelet agent. Electronic searches were done using databases such as PubMed and Cochrane Library with appropriate keywords. Randomized controlled trials and retrospective studies found were then assessed for quality, and their references used to find additional studies. The field of study regarding the antiplatelet therapy is still an area in which much has yet to be found. Although clopidogrel and aspirin are cornerstones of therapy currently, other agents such as ticagrelor offer potential alternatives. This review presents an overview of current antiplatelet therapies and their relative risks and benefits.