title: Oral antiplatelet therapy and percutaneous coronary intervention.
abstract: The benefit of oral antiplatelet therapy following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with intracoronary stent implantation is well established. Combined aspirin with clopidogrel or ticlopidine therapy is superior to aspirin alone in reducing thrombotic events after stent placement. Clopidogrel is the drug of choice, given that its efficacy is comparable to ticlopidine and it has a superior safety profile. Despite dual antiplatelet therapy, patients remain at risk of recurrent vascular events. Optimal timing, duration and dosage of antiplatelet therapy remain controversial. Recent evidence suggests additional benefit with clopidogrel pretreatment, high clopidogrel loading dose and long-term dual antiplatelet therapy post-PCI in high-risk patients.
authors.affiliation: Royal Melbourne Hospital, Department of Cardiology, Grattan St., Parkville, Melbourne, Victoria, 3050, Australia. andrew.ajani@mh.org.au
authors.forename: Bryan P Y
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Clark
authors.forename: Andrew E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Ajani
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic / Q000379:methods; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors