Current status and prospects of antiplatelet therapy in percutaneous coronary intervention in Japan: Focus on adenosine diphosphate receptor inhibitors

Dual antiplatelet therapy with aspirin and clopidogrel is routinely used to prevent thrombotic events in patients with acute coronary syndrome undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in Japan. However, these agents have various limitations and some patients will experience further cardiovascular events. The purpose of this article is to review the antiplatelet agents currently used in patients undergoing PCI in Japan, to discuss the issues and limitations associated with these antiplatelet agents, and to characterize new antiplatelet agents currently under investigation in Japan. Particular emphasis is placed on the novel thienopyridine prasugrel, and the potential this drug has for overcoming the issues associated with other antiplatelet agents. (C) 2011 Japanese College of Cardiology. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.