DOES ADDITION OF CLOPIDOGREL TO ASPIRIN DECREASE PLATELET AGGREGABILITY?

Abstract

Objectives: To compare the antiplatelet effect of aspirin alone with the antiplatelet
effect of combination of aspirin and clopidogrel in cardiovascular patients.
Methodology: This study was conducted in the Jan 2008 in the out patients
department of cardiology, PGMI, Lady Reading Hospital Peshawar. Patients
coming to cardiology OPD and taking aspirin alone or in combination with
clopidogrel for different cardiovascular diseases were included. Blood was take
from each patient for measuring platelet aggregation using whole blood
aggregometer and result of each individual was noted .
Results: A total of 128 patients were included. Patients who were taking only
aspirin were 68. Their mean age was 52.89 ± 9.43 years. Male were 31(45.6%).
Majority 46(67.6%) of these patients were suffering from ischemic heart disease
(IHD). The rest were having hypertension 7(10.3%), CCF 8(11.8%), DM 3(4.4%)
or PAD 4(5.9%). Patients who were taking both aspirin and clopidogrel were 60.
Their mean age was 52.45 ± 8.71 years. Male were 44(73.3%). Patients were
suffering from IHD 59(98.3%). Patients taking aspirin were having mean platelet
aggregability of 7.10±5.89 ohms and patients taking both aspirin and
clopidogrel were having mean platelet aggregability of 4.18±4.6 ohms
(p=0.002). Among patients who were taking only aspirin mean aggregability of
patients with IHD was7.54±5.44ohms , HTN was 10.14 ±5.87 ohms, CCF was
3.12±6.22 ohms, DM was 9.0±7.8ohms and PAD was 3.25±6.5.ohms.
Conclusion: Combination of clopidogrel and aspirin is more effective than aspirin
alone in reducing platelet aggregation.