Anticoagulants and Antiplatelet Agents

Question 1

What kinds of thrombus are anticoagulant agents used to treat? What situations are they usually utilised in?

Answer 1

• Used to treat ‘red’ thrombus formation (usually venous - fibrin mesh in which WBCs and RBCs lodge)
  
  • DVT prevention and treatment
  • PE prevention and treatment
  • AF/valvular thromboembolism prevention and treatment
  • Dialysis clotting prevention and treatment
  • MI prophylaxis in unstable angina

Question 2

What kind of thrombus do antiplatelet agents treat? What situations are they commonly used in?

Answer 2

• Treatment of “white” arterial thrombosis or prophylaxis (fibrin mesh that is platelet-rich)
  
  • Acute MI and high risk of same
  • Unstable ACS
  • CABG, stenting
  • TIAs and ischaemic stroke prevention
  • AF if anticoagulants contraindicated