Autori: N. Alexandru, D. Popov, A. Georgescu.

Editorial: Thrombosis Research, 129, p.116-126, 2012.

Rezumat:

Cardiovascular diseases are one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in industrialized countries,
and although many processes play a role in the development of vascular disease, thrombosis is the primary
event that precipitates stroke and acute coronary syndromes. The blood platelets are of significant importance
in medicine. These cells are involved in many physiological processes, particularly haemostasis through
their ability to aggregate and form clots in response to activation. In addition, these dynamic cells display activities
that extend beyond thrombosis, including an important role in initiating and sustaining vascular inflammation.
The expansion of knowledge from basic and clinical research has highlighted the critical
position of platelets in several inflammatory diseases such as arthritis and atherosclerosis. Platelets are
emerging as important mediators of inflammation and provide important signals to mediate phenotype of
other blood and vascular cells. The important role of platelets in arterial thrombosis and the onset of acute
myocardial infarction after atherosclerotic plaque rupture make inhibition of platelet aggregation a critical
step in preventing thrombotic events associated with stroke, heart attack, and peripheral arterial thrombosis.
However, the use of platelet inhibitors for thrombosis prevention must seek a delicate balance between inhibiting
platelet activation and an associated increased bleeding risk. The aim of this review is to up-date the
knowledge on platelets physiology and dysfunction in pathologies, such as emphasizing the link between platelets and the inflammation-related atherosclerosis.
The review evaluates the opportunities offered by the novel platelet inhibitors to efficiently alleviate
the thrombotic events.

Cuvinte cheie: platelets physiology and dysfunction,diabetes mellitus, hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, platelets inhibitors