Anti-Clotting Effect of Aspirin Wanes Over Time
However, this is not seen with another anti-clotting drug called ticlopidine, also known as Ticlid.
Previous research has suggested a progressive decrease in aspirin's clinical efficacy after two years of treatment, Dr. Fabio M. Pulcinelli and his associates explain in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. To investigate further, the research team at the University "La Sapienza" monitored blood samples from 150 patients for two years after they started anti-platelet treatment.
In the lab, the maximal percentage of platelets that could be made to clump together decreased from 88 percent at the start of the study to 38 percent after two months. Thereafter, clumping increased progressively to 46 percent at 6 months, 48 percent at 12 months and 62 percent at 24 months.
In contrast, in a group of 80 similar patients, the anti-platelet effects of ticlopidine did not change significantly during two years of treatment.
The authors point out that other researchers have observed a reduction in cardiovascular events when treatment with aspirin was combined with clopidogrel, another anti-platelet agent.
"Future studies should therefore address the question of whether the superiority of such a combination is dependent on a more complete and efficient inhibition of platelet aggregation or on a protective effect provided by clopidogrel in patients with a progressively reduced sensitivity to aspirin," Pulcinelli's team concludes.
SOURCE: Journal of the American College of Cardiology, March 17, 2004.
Health Headlines
upcoming Events
U.S. Events
congresses
fellowships
-
Fellowship in Integrative Cancer Therapy
Module I
Boca Raton, FL | Nov. 5-6, 2009 -
Fellowship in Integrative Cancer Therapy
Module II
Boca Raton, FL | Nov. 7-8, 2009 -
Aesthetic Medicine Modules IV & V
Columbus, OH | Nov. 14-17, 2009 -
Aesthetic Medicine Module I
Las Vegas, NV | Dec. 9-10, 2009 -
Anti-Aging & Regenerative Medicine Modules I, II, III & IX
Las Vegas, NV | Dec. 10-12, 2009 -
Preventative Medicine, Nutrition & Sports Medicine Module I
Las Vegas, NV | Dec. 9-11, 2009 -
Fellowship in Preventative Medicine, Nutrition & Sports Medicine Module III
Las Vegas, NV | Dec. 11-12, 2009
symposium
-
Advanced Hormone Symposium
Chicago, IL | Oct. 8-10, 2010
VIDEO: Bio-Identical Hormone
Replacement
Dr. Sangeeta Pati, one of the world’s foremost educators and practicing physicians in the field of HRT shared “The Nuts and Bolts of Hormone Restoration” via webinar. View the Webinar.
International Events
- Dubai | Nov. 8-9, 2009
- Shanghai | Nov. 10-12, 2009
- Bangkok | Nov. 12-14, 2009
- Mexico City | Jan. 15-17, 2010
- Milan | Mar. 18-20, 2010
- Sao Paulo | Nov. 12-14, 2010






