Clopidogrel has become a mainstay of the pharmacological therapy for patients with CAD. A loading dose of 600 mg clopidogrel is associated with a rapid platelet-inhibitory effect. It is still not known whether further suppression of platelet function can be achieved with clopidogrel in addition to that provided by the currently recommended maintenance dose of 75 mg/die and loading dose of 300 to 600 mg. To address this question, we performed a comparative assessment of the antiplatelet effects of a 600-mg loading dose given to patients with coronary artery disease with and without ongoing chronic clopidogrel therapy. First, a 600-mg loading dose of clopidogrel given to patients not previously treated with this drug achieved a degree of platelet inhibition similar to that seen with chronic therapy of 75 mg/d. Second, a 600-mg loading dose of clopidogrel given to patients on chronic 75-mg/d therapy further suppressed platelet aggregation.
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Clopidogrel has become a mainstay of the pharmacological therapy for patients with CAD. A loading dose of 600 mg clopidogrel is associated with a rapid platelet-inhibitory effect. It is still not known whether further suppression of platelet function can be achieved with clopidogrel in addition to that provided by the currently recommended maintenance dose of 75 mg/die and loading dose of 300 to 600 mg. To address this question, we performed a comparative assessment of the antiplatelet effects o...
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