Platelet Function Monitoring in Patients Treated With Clopidogrel at the Time of Primary Percutaneous Coronary Angioplasty
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2011-04-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
Platelets are a major component of clot formation which can lead to clotting events such as
heart attack. During treatment for a heart attack, doctors try to remove this blockage as
quickly as possible so that the heart can recover and start to work properly again. The
standard of care at the Heart Institute for patients having a heart attack is a procedure
called a Percutaneous Coronary Angioplasty. A drug called Clopidogrel (Plavix) is routinely
used prior to the angioplasty to prevent blood clots. Patients usually remain on Clopidogrel
for at least one year following the angioplasty. Clopidogrel works by preventing the blood
from forming sticky substances called platelets, which clump together to form clots. Despite
the routine use of Clopidogrel, some patients still return to the hospital with another heart
attack, or with more chest pain. There is a growing body of evidence that recurrence of these
complications may be attributed to some patients having a poor response to Clopidogrel.
This pilot study will examine how platelets react to different doses of Clopidogrel given to
patients having a heart attack.