Platelets play a central role in the pathophysiology of arterial thrombosis in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Aspirin is superior to placebo in preventing mortality and ischemic events in patients with ACS. Clopidogrel, when added to aspirin and given daily for up to 1 year, reduces cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction and stroke by 20% in patients presenting with ACS. The…
Despite the use of aspirin, there is still a risk of ischaemic events after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). We aimed to find out whether, in addition to aspirin, pretreatment with clopidogrel followed by long-term therapy after PCI is superior to a strategy of no pretreatment and short-term therapy for only 4 weeks after PCI.