By Christian Duffin
A large observational study has found that concurrent use of a proton-pump inhibitor with clopidogrel after acute myocardial infarction is not associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular mortality or death.
Previous research has suggested that patients who are prescribed the two drugs together whilst hospitalised for a heart attack of are at increased risk of a subsequent cardiovascular event.
French researchers examined the FAST-MI registry, a database of 3670 patients presenting with definite myocardial infarction. Patients were categorised according to use of clopidogrel and/or PPI within 48 hours after hospital admission.
PPI use was not associated with an increased risk of another infarction, stroke, bleeding or transfusion whilst in hospital. PPI treatment was not an independent predictor of one-year survival or one-year myocardial infarction, stroke, or death.
Dr Simon Tabbassome, a pharmacologist in the clinical research unit at Université Pierre et Marie Curie in Paris, concluded: ‘PPI use was not associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular events or mortality in patients administered clopidogrel for recent MI.'
Circulation, online 24 January 2011
PPI and clopidogrel use does not worsen outcomes after a year
