Hamilos M, Petousis S, Parthenakis F, et al.
Cardiovascular diagnosis and therapy. Date of publication 2018 Oct 1;volume 8(5):568-580.
1. Cardiovasc Diagn Ther. 2018 Oct;8(5):568-580. doi: 10.21037/cdt.2018.07.01.
Interaction between platelets and endothelium: from pathophysiology to new
therapeutic options.
Hamilos M(1), Petousis S(1), Parthenakis F(1).
Author information:
(1)Department of Cardiology, University Hospital of Heraklion, Heraklion, Crete,
Greece.
Platelets were traditionally considered to purely have a role in the maintenance
of haemostasis. Recently their role in vasomotor function, inflammation and
atherosclerosis has been very well-recognized. Endothelium which was originally
considered as a simple passive barrier, it is now viewed as an organ whose normal
functioning is crucial for maintaining vascular health. When endothelial balance
is disturbed, vascular disease initiates. Platelet interactions with endothelium
have an important contribution in this process. Low-grade inflammation,
endothelial dysfunction, and platelet hyper-reactivity are all independently
associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular events. Older antiplatelet
agents like aspirin and clopidogrel and newer more potent agents like prasugrel
and ticagrelor have been proven effective in all the clinical spectrum of
coronary artery disease patients. Current antiplatelet medications and especially
newer generation P2Y12 inhibitor ticagrelor, offer clinical benefits not only due
to their well-recognized antithrombotic effect, but also via the attenuation of
platelet inflammatory action, impediment of P2Y12 activation effects in other
cells and through other complex and sometimes undefined pathways. Future research
is expected to better define platelet-endothelium interactions and the multiple
impact of current antiplatelet therapy on them.
DOI: 10.21037/cdt.2018.07.01
PMCID: PMC6232347
PMID: 30498682
Conflict of interest statement: Conflicts of Interest: M Hamilos has received
speaker fees and participated in advisory boards for Astra-Zeneca. The other
authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.
