Which drug is an example of an antiplatelet that decreases platelet aggregation?

Aspirin is a well-known antiplatelet medication that functions by irreversibly inhibiting cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1), which is essential for the conversion of arachidonic acid to thromboxane A2. Thromboxane A2 is a potent promoter of platelet aggregation, so by inhibiting its production, aspirin effectively reduces the ability of platelets to clump together, thereby lowering the risk of thrombosis. This mechanism makes aspirin particularly useful in preventing cardiovascular events like heart attacks and strokes.

While clopidogrel is also an antiplatelet agent that decreases platelet aggregation through a different mechanism, it wasn’t selected as the answer in this case. Warfarin and heparin, on the other hand, are anticoagulants rather than antiplatelet drugs. They work by inhibiting different clotting factors in the coagulation cascade, which is a separate phenomenon from platelet aggregation. Therefore, aspirin remains a primary example of an antiplatelet drug specifically targeting platelet function.