Antithrombotic agents

Information about Antithrombotic agents

Antithrombotic agents are separated into those drugs that decrease the synthesis of coagulation factors or interrupt the coagulation cascade (anticoagulants) and those that inhibit platelet function (antiplatelet agents).  A third class of agents are the thrombolytic drugs which act to promote dissolution of thromboses after they have formed. 

Liver toxicity of Antithrombotic agents

The antithrombotic agents are rare causes of clinically apparent acute liver injury.  

Mechanism of action of Antithrombotic agents

Anticoagulants are used largely for the prevention and treatment of venous thromboses, although they have some activity against arterial thromboses.  Their major clinical use is prevention and treatment of deep vein thrombosis in high risk persons (such as after hip or knee replacement surgery or with prolonged immobilization), prevention and treatment of pulmonary embolism, and prevention of arterial embolism in patients with atrial fibrillation.

Anticoagulants

The anticoagulant agents in clinical use and their year of approval include heparin and its low molecular weight derivatives dalteparin (Fragmin: 1994), enoxaparin (Lovenox: 1993), and tinzaparin (Innohep: 2000); direct thrombin inhibitors such as dabigatran (Pradaxa: 2010) and desirudin (Iprivask: 2003); factor Xa inhibitors such as fondaparinux (Arixtra: 2001), rivaroxaban (Xarelto: 2011), apixaban (Eliquis: 2012) and edoxaban (Savaysa: 2015), and warfarin (Coumadin: 1967), a vitamin K antagonist. 

List of anticoagulants Dabigatran, Desirudin Apixaban, Edoxaban, Fondaparinux, Rivaroxaban Heparins, Heparin, Dalteparin, Enoxaparin, Tinzaparin, Warfarin.

Antiplatelet agents

Antiplatelet agents are effective for the prevention and treatment of arterial thromboses (which are platelet rich).  Aspirin is an irreversible inhibitor of cyclooxygenase 1, which blocks platelet activation and aggregation for the life of the platelet.  Aspirin is commonly used for treatment and prevention of coronary, cerebrovascular and other arterial thromboses (myocardial infarction, stroke, peripheral vascular disease).  Dipyridamole increases cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) levels in platelets by blocking adenosine uptake or inhibiting phosphodiesterases which metabolize cAMP.  The increased cAMP levels result in inhibition of platelet aggregation.  Dipyridamole is used with or without aspirin for secondary prevention of myocardial infarction or stroke.  The thienopyridines, ticlopidine, clopidogrel and prasugrel, inhibit the major adenosine diphosphate receptor (also known as the purinergic receptor, P2Y-12) on platelets which blocks their activation and aggregation. 

These agents are used for secondary prevention of coronary and cerebrovascular thrombosis.  Ticagrelor is a non-thienopyridine platelet aggregation inhibitor with activity similar to the thienopyridines.  Ticagrelor is used with aspirin (<100 mg daily) as secondary prevention of arterial thrombosis with acute coronary syndrome.  Cangrelor is a platelet agrregation inhibitor similar to ticagrelor which is administered intravenously and has a rapid onset of action and rapid half-life, making it an appropriate as therapy of acute cardiovascular events.  Vorapaxar is a inhibitor of the protease-activated receptor 1 (PAR-1) found on platelets that inhibits platelet aggregation and is used to reduct the risk of atherosclerotic events in high risk patients.  Finally, the glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor blockers have an immediate effect in preventing platelet aggregation, blocking the action of fibrinogen and von Willebrand factor on these platelet receptors; these agents are administered intravenously and are used to attain immediate platelet inhibition in acute coronary syndrome or percutaneous coronary artery intervention.  Because of their restricted use, the glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor inhibitors are not discussed individually in LiverTox.  They have not been convincingly linked to instances of clinically apparent acute liver injury.

FDA approval information for Antithrombotic agents

The antiplatelet drugs in current use and their year of approval include aspirin; dipyridamole (Persantine: 1961); the thienopyridine inhibitors of P2Y-12 including ticlopidine (Ticid: 1991), clopidogrel (Plavix: 1997), and prasugrel (Effient: 2009); the non-thienopyridine P2Y-12 inhibitors ticagrelor (Brilinta: 2011) and cangrelor (Kenreal: 2015); an inhibitor of PAR-1 vorapaxar (Zontivity: 2014); and the intravenously administered glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor blockers including abciximab (ReoPro: 1994) and eptifibatide (Integrilin: 1998). 

List of antiplatelet agents. Aspirin Cangrelor Clopidogrel Dipyridamole Prasugrel Ticagrelor Ticlopidine Vorapaxar

Thrombolytic drugs

Thrombolytic drugs include tissue plasminogen activators (tPA: alteplase, reteplase and tenecteplase), anistreplase, streptokinase and urokinase.  These agents are administered intravenously immediately or soon after after arterial or venous thromboses or emboli.  These agents have not been definitely linked to instances of acute liver injury.

Other antithrombotic agents include defibrotide, which is a complex mixture of single stranded polydeoxyribonucleotides derived from porcine intestinal mucosa that has antithrombotic and profibrinolytic activity and is used in the treatment of severe sinusoidal obstruction syndrome after hematopoietic cell transplantation.  Finally, anagrelide is an antithrombotic agent that inhibits the production of platelets, thereby reducing platelet counts, which is used to treat essential thrombocytosis and other causes of thombocythemia associated with an increased rate of arterial or venous thromboses.

• Dailymed label info on Antithrombotic agents
• FDA Antithrombotic agents

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