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Clopidogrel (Plavix) often is added to aspirin for supplementary antiplatelet defense in patients who present with acute coronary syndromes (ACS). But does dual antiplatelet therapy pose risks to patients who ultimately require coronary artery bypass grafting? In this industry-funded study, data were analyzed from 596 patients in 14 hospitals across the U.S. who underwent CABG during their index hospitalizations. Of these patients, 298 had been exposed to clopidogrel within 5 days of their procedures.
Patients who were exposed to clopidogrel were threefold more likely to require reexploration for bleeding (6.4% vs. 1.7%) and were significantly more likely to experience major bleeding (35% vs. 26%) than were those who did not receive clopidog…