FRANKLIN LAKES, N.J., May 7, 2009 (UPI via COMTEX) -- The anti-clotting action
of the medication clopidogrel -- Plavix -- can be compromised by common drugs
for the treatment of heartburn, U.S. researchers said.
Principal investigator Eric J. Stanek of Medco Health Solutions in Franklin
Lakes, N.J., said the study specifically focused on the effects of proton pump
inhibitors -- omeprazole or Prilosec; esomeprazole or Nexium; pantoprazole or
Protonix; and lansoprazole or Prevacid. Together those drugs accounted for about
96 percent of proton pump inhibitors use in the study.
Patients who receive a drug-eluting stent benefit from taking anti-clotting
medications, including thienopyradines -- such as clopidogrel or ticlopidine --
and aspirin, for at least one year following the procedure.
The researchers analyzed integrated data on pharmacy and medical claims from
more than 10 million patients, including 16,690 patients taking clopidogrel for
one year following coronary stenting. Of these, 41 percent also took a proton
pump inhibitors, on average, for more than nine months of the year.
Over that 12-month period, the overall major adverse cardiovascular events risk
was 51 percent higher among patients taking any proton pump inhibitors. The
findings were equally concerning when the effects of individual proton pump
inhibitors were analyzed. Omeprazole correlated with a 39 percent increased risk
of major adverse cardiovascular events, esomeprazole to a 57 percent increased
risk, pantoprazole to a 61 percent increased risk and lansoprazole to a 39
percent increased risk. All of the associations were highly statistically
significant.
The findings were presented at the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and
Interventions' 32nd annual scientific sessions.
URL: www.upi.com
Copyright 2009 by United Press International
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