title: Clopidogrel is associated with a lesser increase in NT-proBNP when compared to aspirin in patients with ischemic heart failure.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Aspirin has been associated with adverse heart failure outcomes, probably because of a blunting interaction with angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors. Therefore, we hypothesized that clopidogrel when compared with aspirin would be associated with a slower progression of heart failure as determined by levels of amino-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP).
  
  
  RESULTS
  In an open-label, randomized, 2-treatment, 2-period crossover study, 18 patients with ischemic heart failure (14 post-myocardial infarction, left ventricular ejection fraction 0.32 +/- 0.08), median age 73, New York Heart Association class II (11 patients) or III (7 patients), all taking ACE inhibitors were included. Patients were randomized to 8 weeks of aspirin 100 mg/day followed by 8 weeks of clopidogrel 75 mg/day, or the reversed sequence. Blood levels of NT-proBNP were measured using sandwich immunoassay. Patients on aspirin experienced an 8-times greater increase in log-transformed values of NT-proBNP compared with patients on clopidogrel (average change 4.757% versus 0.597%; P = .0395 for intervention, P = .4453 for period, P = .4046 for sequence). We observed no change in functional class, 6-minute walking test, creatinine levels, or electrolytes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Aspirin is associated with a greater increase in natriuretic peptides (log-transformed NT-proBNP levels), implying that aspirin therapy is associated with a more progressive course of heart failure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular Diseases, University Clinical Centre, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Borut
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Jug
authors.forename: Miran
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sebestjen
authors.forename: Miso
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sabovic
authors.forename: Irena
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Keber
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001241:Aspirin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002303:Cardiac Output, Low / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000077144:Clopidogrel; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000150:complications; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000097:blood*; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000097:blood*; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013988:Ticlopidine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D010446:Peptide Fragments; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; C109794:pro-brain natriuretic peptide (1-76); D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain; D000077144:Clopidogrel; D013988:Ticlopidine; D001241:Aspirin