Anticoagulant, Antiplatelet, and Fibrinolytic Medications

Modulation of blood coagulation, fibrinolysis, and platelet aggregation are of central importance in health and disease. From a clinical standpoint, medications have been developed to prevent blood pathological coagulation, trigger the lysis of a preexisting clot following a thromboembolic event, or to inhibit platelet aggregation. While there are a variety of different modulatory mechanisms available, they each have strengths and weaknesses that must be taken into account in selecting the optimal pharmacotherapy.