28 Nov 2024 • Clopidogrel has emerged as a safer and more effective choice than aspirin for long-term antiplatelet therapy in patients who have undergone percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

According to a new study, clopidogrel showed consistent benefits in patients with high bleeding risk (HBR) or complex PCI procedures.

-In this trial, 3,974 event-free patients during 6 to 18 months of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) were exposed to either clopidogrel or aspirin monotherapy.

-Over nearly six years of follow-up, clopidogrel showed lower rates of cardiovascular death, stroke, and stent thrombosis—and bleeding complications.

-Notably, patients who underwent complex PCI experienced a 51% reduction in thrombotic events with clopidogrel compared to aspirin.

These results underscore clopidogrel’s potential as the superior choice for chronic maintenance therapy in post-PCI patients, regardless of bleeding risk or procedural complexity.

Source: JAMA Cardiology Read full story