Effect of combined administration of clopidogrel and lysine acetylsalicylate versus clopidogrel and aspirin on platelet aggregation and activated GPIIb/IIIa expression in healthy volunteers.

ABSTRACT

Platelet activation contributes to thrombotic events in cardiovascular disease. Acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) is used in combination with clopidogrel to reduce cardiovascular events. Lysine acetylsalicylate (L-ASA), also inhibits platelet activation with fewer gastrointestinal side effects than ASA. Dual therapy with L-ASA and clopidogrel may result in an antiplatelet effect with fewer side effects. We compared the antiplatelet effect of combined ASA/clopidogrel versus L-ASA/clopidogrel in healthy subjects. Fourteen volunteers (seven men and seven women, aged 25-45 years) received antiplatelet therapy during 14-day periods in the following sequence 75 mg ASA; 160 mg L-ASA; 75 mg clopidogrel; 160 mg L-ASA plus 75 mg clopidogrel, and 75 mg ASA plus 75 mg clopidogrel. We evaluated platelet aggregation and glycoprotein IIb/IIIa activation. Our results show that administration of L-ASA/clopidogrel is as effective as ASA/clopidogrel combination.