A recently concluded clinical study by doctors from the Thomas Jefferson University Hospital suggested that allergic reactions to the widely-prescribed drug Clopidogrel, also known as Plavix, can be treated with a combination of antihistamines and steroids.

Plavix is considered to be one of the most prescribed drugs worldwide. Since 2007, it has been the fourth most-sold drug in terms of sales volume in the United States. It is estimated that around 6 percent of its users show signs of allergic reactions.

This study followed 24 patients who signs of Plavix allergies after undergoing the procedures of coronary stent. As much as 87 percent patients were able to stay on Plavix after being treated with antihistamines and steroids.

From ScienceDaily:

A clinical study of cardiac patients who suffered an allergic reaction to the widely-prescribed drug clopidogrel, also known by the pharmaceutical name Plavix, found that treatment with a combination of steroids and antihistamines can alleviate the allergic reaction symptoms thereby allowing patients to remain on the drug, say doctors from Thomas Jefferson University Hospital. The study followed 24 patients, who developed Plavix allergies after undergoing coronary stent procedures.

Eighty-eight percent (21 of 24) were able to stay on Plavix uninterrupted after being treated with the antihistamines and a short course of steroids. Primary Investigator Michael P. Savage, M.D., director, Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital and Kimberly L. Campbell, M.D., cardiology fellow and lead author, presented their findings at the American College of Cardiology’s Annual Scientific Session on March 30 2009.

“This is a very important study for many cardiac patients but especially those with stents,” said Savage. “Every patient who receives a stent must take Plavix to help prevent stent thrombosis which is clotting of the stent. This obviously poses major problems if the patient suffers an allergic reaction to the medication. To discontinue taking the drug can lead to a heart attack which may be fatal. Those with a drug eluting stent are required to be on the drug for at least one year. Our patients with drug eluting stents actually averaged 17 months on Plavix versus the minimum of one year. That’s a very long time to not be on a medication that may save your life.”

It means that patients can continue to remain on Plavix after being treated with steroids and antihistamines. It also means that patients who have received stent (a slender tube that is inserted inside a tubular body part as a vessel of blood to offer support during and after surgical anastomosis) can be protected from stent clotting (stent thrombosis) with a combination of antihistamines & steroids.

This is the first systematic study demonstrating management of allergy caused by Plavix without stopping the drug after reactions are noticed by a patient or physician.

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Tags: antihistamines, clopidogrel, coronary stent, Plavix, steroids

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