Aspirin Resistance

Aspirin resistance is a poorly understood clinical entity that is commonly observed and is associated with major adverse cardiovascular events. Emerging data have provided initial insight to help clinicians manage patients with aspirin resistance. This chapter will focus on the (i) definition and relative prevalence of aspirin resistance, (ii) clinical implications of this phenomenon, (iii) mechanisms of variability and suboptimal response, and (iv) potential methods to overcome aspirin resistance. The chapter hopes to provide a realistic framework in which clinicians can tailor management approaches to each specific etiology of aspirin resistance. Matching the patient's clinical scenario with an appropriate intervention will be essential for therapeutic success.