Antiplatelet effects of a 600 mg loading dose of clopidogrel are not attenuated in patients receiving atorvastatin or simvastatin for at least 4 weeks prior to coronary artery stenting.
OBJECTIVE
To test prospectively whether the antiplatelet effect of a 600 mg loading dose of clopidogrel is attenuated in patients receiving atorvastatin and simvastatin for at least 4 weeks prior to coronary artery stenting.


RESULTS
Blood samples were obtained at least 2 h after receiving 100 mg aspirin and 600 mg clopidogrel and prior to coronary stenting from 90 patients without statin therapy and 90 patients with statin (atorvastatin and simvastatin) therapy for at least 4 weeks. Maximal and residual platelet aggregation was evaluated with optical aggregometry in response to ADP (5 and 20 micromol/l). Surface expression of IIb/IIIa (CD61) and P-selectin (CD62) was assessed with whole blood flow-cytometry at baseline and following stimulation (5 and 20 micromol/l ADP). Inhibition of ADP-induced platelet aggregation was not impaired in the presence of concomitant statin therapy. Moreover, patients with and without statin therapy did not differ in respect to all flow-cytometric parameters obtained.


CONCLUSIONS
The antiplatelet effect of a high, 600 mg loading dose of clopidogrel is not diminished in patients receiving atorvastatin and simvastatin for at least 4 weeks prior to coronary stenting.
Gorchakova
Olga
O
Medizinische Klinik rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany.
von Beckerath
Nicolas
N
Gawaz
Meinrad
M
Mocz
Adrienne
A
Joost
Alexander
A
Schömig
Albert
A
Kastrati
Adnan
A
D000368:Aged; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D000077144:Clopidogrel; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery*; D004347:Drug Interactions; D005260:Female; D006538:Heptanoic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011300:Preoperative Care / Q000379:methods; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D019821:Simvastatin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015607:Stents; D013988:Ticlopidine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*
D006538:Heptanoic Acids; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D011758:Pyrroles; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D000077144:Clopidogrel; D019821:Simvastatin; D013988:Ticlopidine