Genetic polymorphisms and the impact of a higher clopidogrel dose regimen on active metabolite exposure and antiplatelet response in healthy subjects.

A double-blind crossover study was conducted in four CYP2C19 genotype-defined metabolizer groups to assess whether increase in clopidogrel dosing can overcome reduced pharmacodynamic response in CYP2C19 poor metabolizers (PMs). Ten healthy subjects in each of four metabolizer groups were randomized to a clopidogrel regimen of a 300-mg loading dose (LD) and a 75-mg/day maintenance dose (MD) for 4 days followed by 600-mg LD and 150 mg/day MD, or vice versa. The exposure levels of clopidogrel's active metabolite H4 (clopi-H4) in PMs were 71% lower on the 75-mg/day regimen and 64% lower on the 150-mg/day regimen than the corresponding exposure levels in extensive metabolizers (EMs). In PMs, the maximal platelet aggregation (MPA) induced by adenosine diphosphate (ADP) 5 µmol/l was 10.5% lower on the 75-mg/day regimen and 7.9% lower on the 150-mg/day regimen than the corresponding values in EMs. PMs who were on the clopidogrel regimen of 600-mg LD/150 mg/day MD showed clopi-H4 exposure and MPA levels similar to those in EMs who were on the regimen of 300-mg LD/75 mg/day MD. In a pooled analysis evaluating CYP1A2, CYP2B6, CYP2C9, CYP2C19, CYP3A5, CYP2D6, ABCB1, and P2RY12 polymorphisms (N = 396 healthy subjects), only CYP2C19 had a significant impact on antiplatelet response. In healthy CYP2C19 PMs, a clopidogrel regimen of 600-mg LD/150 mg/day MD largely overcomes diminished clopi-H4 exposure and antiplatelet response, as assessed by MPA levels.

Differential effects of omeprazole and pantoprazole on the pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of clopidogrel in healthy subjects: randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover comparison studies.

Four randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover studies were conducted among 282 healthy subjects to investigate whether an interaction exists between clopidogrel (300-mg loading dose/75-mg/day maintenance dose) and the proton-pump inhibitor (PPI) omeprazole (80 mg) when they are administered simultaneously (study 1); whether the interaction, if any, can be mitigated by administering clopidogrel and omeprazole 12 h apart (study 2) or by increasing clopidogrel to 600-mg loading/150-mg/day maintenance dosing (study 3); and whether the interaction applies equally to the PPI pantoprazole (80 mg) (study 4). Relative to levels after administration of clopidogrel alone in studies 1,2,3, and 4, coadministration of PPI decreased the AUC(0-24) of the clopidogrel active metabolite H4 by 40, 47, 41, and 14% (P ≤ 0.002), respectively; increased maximal platelet aggregation (MPA) induced by 5 micromol/l adenosine diphosphate (ADP) by 8.0, 5.6, 8.1, and 4.3% (P ≤ 0.014), respectively; and increased the vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein phosphorylation-platelet reactivity index (VASP-PRI) by 20.7, 27.1, 19.0 (P < 0.0001), and 3.9% (P = 0.3319), respectively. The results suggest that a metabolic drug-drug interaction exists between clopidogrel and omeprazole but not between clopidogrel and pantoprazole.

Intrathecal somatostatin in terminally ill patients. A report of two cases.

Intrathecal morphine has been shown to be reliable in producing analgesia in patients with intractable cancer pain. Recently, we have demonstrated that intrathecal somatostatin is as effective in the treatment of cancer pain as intrathecal morphine. This report presents 2 cases in whom analgesia could be maintained for 60 and 25 days, respectively, under continuous intrathecal infusion of somatostatin by means of infusion devices.