The results of experiment and clinical studies support the hypothesis that
initiation and progression of arterial thrombosis are dependent on a dynami
c interaction between platelet- and coagulation-dependent mechanisms. Altho
ugh treatment of patients with unstable coronary syndromes acutely with gly
coprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors has already been shown to be remarkably effec
tive in improving short- and long-term prognosis, strategies that inhibit f
actor thrombin and/or Xa activity may also have a role either alone or in c
ombination with platelet inhibitors in treating patients with coronary thro
mbosis. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.