Research Journal of Pharmacology and Pharmacodynamics

Abstract

Clopidogrel is an oral antiplatelet agent (thienopyridine class) to inhibit blood clots in coronary artery disease, peripheral vascular disease, and cerebrovascular disease. Clopidogrel keeps the platelets in your blood from coagulating (clotting) to prevent unwanted blood clots that can occur with certain heart or blood vessel conditions and is used to prevent blood clots after a recent heart attack or stroke, and in people with certain disorders of the heart or blood vessels.

Here from the research article we found a clustering of death and MI events in the initial 90-day period after clopidogrel cessation, compared with subsequent follow-up intervals. Findings were consistent among subgroups of patients who received shorter or longer durations of clopidogrel therapy, patients with or without diabetes, and ACS patients who underwent PCI. The rate of adverse events in the initial 90-day interval after stopping clopidogrel was higher than the rate of adverse events following hospital discharge while patients were still taking clopidogrel. These findings support the hypothesis of a rebound hyperthrombotic period after clopidogrel cessation. They also highlight the need for additional studies to confirm these findings and to gain a deeper understanding of the pathophysiology of this phenomenon as well as allowing identification of strategies to attenuate this effect.

We observed a clustering of adverse events in the initial 90 days after stopping clopidogrel among both medically treated and PCI-treated patients with ACS, supporting the possibility of a clopidogrel rebound effect.

Keywords

Full Text

References