What's the Best Loading Dose of Clopidogrel?

Clopidogrel, a potent inhibitor of platelet activation, is commonly used before and after stent implantation and in the management of acute coronary syndromes. Low-risk patients . . .

Clopidogrel, a potent inhibitor of platelet activation, is commonly used before and after stent implantation and in the management of acute coronary syndromes. Low-risk patients who are pretreated with aspirin and clopidogrel before percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) may not require other antiplatelet agents. In most studies of clopidogrel, a 300-mg loading dose is used more than 6 hours before PCI, to ensure that this inactive prodrug has time to form sufficient amounts of active compound. Now, in 1001 patients undergoing catheterization in Germany, researchers assessed platelet aggregation before and after administration of a larger, 600-mg loading dose of clopidogrel, aimed at accelerating the treatment pathway before PCI.

Compared …

Reviewing Author

Howard C. Herrmann, MD