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Figure 3 Platelet adhesion, activation and aggregation and inhibition by GPIIb/IIIa inhibitors. In this diagram of events associated with platelet adhesion (a), activation (b) and aggregation (c), activated platelets undergo a conformational change in the shape of the GPIIb/IIIa receptors, which makes them receptive to ligand binding. Fibrinogen binds to the platelet GPIIb/IIIa receptors on adjacent platelets, forming bridges between them. As shown in (d), GPIIb/IIIa receptor inhibitors block this fibrinogen-binding receptor and therefore directly prevent platelets from aggregating. AA = arachidonic acid; ADP = adenosine diphosphate; ASA = aspirin; GPIIb/IIIa = glycoprotein IIb/IIIa; TXA2 = thromboxane A2; vWF = von Willebrand factor.
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