antiagregants
Antiplatelet agents, often referred to as antiaggregants, are a class of medications that prevent blood clots by reducing the ability of platelets to clump together. Platelets are small, irregular-shaped cells in the blood that play a crucial role in hemostasis, the process of stopping bleeding. When a blood vessel is injured, platelets aggregate at the site of injury, forming a temporary plug that stops bleeding. However, in certain conditions, such as atherosclerosis, this aggregation can become excessive and lead to the formation of dangerous clots that can block blood flow.
Antiplatelet drugs work by interfering with different pathways involved in platelet activation and aggregation. For example,