Antiplatelet agents are not expected to prevent all forms of thrombotic events. Thrombi occurring in arteries are rich in platelets, so antiplatelet agents are partially effective. In obstructed arteries, with slow flow, the throm¬bus consists mainly of red cells within the fibrin mesh and very few platelets. This situation is similar to venous thrombosis where platelets are not predominant. The contents of a ruptured plaque are highly thrombogenic. Aspirin is only partially effective in preventing coronary thrombosis following plaque rupture, the usual cause of a heart attack. Thus, antiplatelet agents are not suffi¬ciently beneficial in the prevention of coronary thrombosis occurring at the site of a ruptured atheromatous plaque.

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