Does a shift from ticlopidine to clopidogrel affect platelet aggregation in patients with transient ischemic attack and ischemic stroke?: A multi-center prospective study

Abstract

In this prospective study, the authors assessed whether or not platelet aggregation underwent significant changes when an antiplatelet agent was shifted from 200 mg/day of ticlopidine to 75 mg/day of clopidogrel in 44 patients with transient ischemic attack or ischemic stroke. Platelet aggregation was monitored before and at 1 to 3 months after the drug shift. The results, obtained indicated that collagen- and ADP-dependent platelet aggregation did not exhibit any significant changes when the antiplatelet agent was shifted from ticlopidine to clopidogrel. The present findings strongly suggest that platelet aggregation is well inhibited and constant when ticlopidine is replaced by clopidogrel.