title: Contemporary issues on clopidogrel therapy.
abstract: In this paper, data from available studies regarding some contemporary issues on clopidogrel therapy are analyzed. In particular, the following clinical questions have been considered and addressed: (a) Is early clopidogrel treatment needed in patients with acute coronary syndromes treated medically or undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI)? (b) What is the optimal clopidogrel loading dose in patients undergoing PCI? (c) Is pre-treatment with clopidogrel before PCI needed, or can clopidogrel loading be given in the catheter laboratory before intervention, but after coronary anatomy is known? (d) What is the optimal clopidogrel strategy in patients on chronic clopidogrel therapy undergoing PCI? (e) Does the degree of clopidogrel response influence clinical outcome in patients undergoing PCI?
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome, Via Alvaro del Portillo 200, 00128 Rome, Italy. g.patti@unicampus.it
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Patti
authors.forename: Germano
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Di Sciascio
mesh_terms: D054058:Acute Coronary Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy; D000077144:Clopidogrel; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006801:Humans; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013988:Ticlopidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D000077144:Clopidogrel; D013988:Ticlopidine