Is ASA "antithrombic"?

[LaceyRN]

My review book states that ASA is administered to a pt in acute MI because of it's antithrombic action.

I understand that ASA is an antiplatelet but is NOT a thrombolytic...

so this just sounds confusing to me. Maybe it's just semantics but I don't want to miss a similar q on the exam or NCLEX.

Is my review book correct or should the more appropriate response be that ASA is administered in MI due to it's antiplatelet action?

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

Platlettes can adhere together (platelete aggregation) and form a thrombus. So ASA prevents this and thus is antithrombic in action.

A platelet core is the bulk of an arterial thrombus so the primary action of ASA is to prevent these thrombus from forming in the arteries.

It is classed, you are suspecting "an antiplatelet drug". :)

However, you are also correct that it is not a thrombolytic.........thsoe drugs are the "clot busters". ASA tries to stop the clots from forming in the first place. These are the fine details that trip you up on NCEX....ASA is anti-thrombic but not thrombolytic.

Good luck in your studies.

[LaceyRN]

Platlettes can adhere together (platelete aggregation) and form a thrombus. So ASA prevents this and thus is antithrombic in action.

A platelet core is the bulk of an arterial thrombus so the primary action of ASA is to prevent these thrombus from forming in the arteries.

It is classed, you are suspecting "an antiplatelet drug". :)

However, you are also correct that it is not a thrombolytic.........thsoe drugs are the "clot busters". ASA tries to stop the clots from forming in the first place. These are the fine details that trip you up on NCEX....ASA is anti-thrombic but not thrombolytic.

Good luck in your studies.

Ok, so since ASA is classified as an antiplatelet, it is administered during MI due to it's antithrombic action?

Do have this straight?

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

Ok, so since ASA is classified as an antiplatelet, it is administered during MI due to it's antithrombic action?

Do have this straight?

Yes, that's it! :)

Platelets aggregate (clumb together) particularly in times of injury. This is good because it stops bleeding, etc. but in an injured heart you don't want platelets clumping together further aggravating an injuried area. So by being antiplatelet it's antithrombic. I have a headache now. LOL

[LaceyRN]

Got it!

This reminds me of those nursing exams where more than 1 answer is correct, but you have to pick the best answer. In this q, antiplatelet is a correct answer too, but antithrombic is better...WHEW!

LOL

[AnnieOaklyRN, BSN, RN, EMT-P]

hi,

Just to add to what the above poster said...

Thrombolytics, are now more correctly refered to as Fibrinolytics because the way they break down clots is by degrating fibrin which helps hold a clot together.

Swtooth

[VickyRN, MSN, DNP, RN]

Just want to add a thought. There are two components to a blood clot - the fibrin mesh and the platelets. I liken this to a spider web (fibrin mesh) and an insect (platelet). Both are necessary for an effective clot to form. Anticoagulants are medications that prevent the fibrin mesh from forming. These are medications such as heparin and coumadin. Antiplatelets or antiplatelet aggregation agents are medications that prevent the platelets from clumping together. They put a "Teflon coating" on each platelet so they won't clump. These are medications such as aspirin, plavix, integrilin, etc. Both anticoagulants and antiplatelet aggregation agents are antithrombotics because they each work to prevent blood clots. They just help prevent the blood clotting problem in different ways.