Antithrombotic agents
Antithrombotic agents
Antithrombotic agents (pronounced: an-ti-throm-bot-ic agents) are a group of pharmaceuticals that decrease the likelihood of thrombosis by inhibiting the formation of blood clots. The term "antithrombotic" is derived from the Greek words "anti" meaning against, and "thrombos" meaning clot.
Types of Antithrombotic Agents
There are three main types of antithrombotic agents: anticoagulants, antiplatelet drugs, and thrombolytics.
- Anticoagulants such as warfarin and heparin, work by interrupting the process of blood clot formation.
- Antiplatelet drugs like aspirin and clopidogrel, prevent blood platelets from clumping together to form a clot.
- Thrombolytics are used to dissolve blood clots after they have formed. Examples include alteplase and reteplase.
Uses
Antithrombotic agents are used in the prevention and treatment of various medical conditions that are caused by blood clots. These include deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, myocardial infarction, and stroke. They are also used to prevent clotting in patients who have undergone certain types of surgery, such as hip replacement or knee replacement surgery.
Side Effects
The most common side effect of antithrombotic agents is bleeding. Other potential side effects include bruising, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. In rare cases, these drugs can cause serious bleeding complications, such as hemorrhagic stroke.
Related Terms
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Antithrombotic agents
- Wikipedia's article - Antithrombotic agents
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski