Does Clopidogrel Work Differently in Men and Women?

Data suggest sex-related differences in the response to some antiplatelet medications, such as aspirin and glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors. But what about clopidogrel? In a meta-analysis of five large randomized placebo-controlled studies, researchers assessed the relative safety and efficacy of clopidogrel in men and women.

Adverse cardiovascular events were 14% lower overall in clopidogrel recipients, with no significant differences in treatment effect between men (event rates were reduced from 9.0% to 7.8%) and women (event rates were reduced from 11.8% to 11.0%). In women, the reduction in adverse events was driven mostly by significantly fewer myocardial infarctions, whereas MI, stroke, and overall death were all significantly lower in…