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A correction has been published: N Engl J Med 2001;345(20):1506.

A correction has been published: N Engl J Med 2001;345(23):1716.

Original Article
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Volume 345:494-502 August 16, 2001 Number 7
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Effects of Clopidogrel in Addition to Aspirin in Patients with Acute Coronary Syndromes without ST-Segment Elevation
The Clopidogrel in Unstable Angina to Prevent Recurrent Events Trial Investigators

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ABSTRACT

Background Despite current treatments, patients who have acute coronary syndromes without ST-segment elevation have high rates of major vascular events. We evaluated the efficacy and safety of the antiplatelet agent clopidogrel when given with aspirin in such patients.

Methods We randomly assigned 12,562 patients who had presented within 24 hours after the onset of symptoms to receive clopidogrel (300 mg immediately, followed by 75 mg once daily) (6259 patients) or placebo (6303 patients) in addition to aspirin for 3 to 12 months.

Results The first primary outcome — a composite of death from cardiovascular causes, nonfatal myocardial infarction, or stroke — occurred in 9.3 percent of the patients in the clopidogrel group and 11.4 percent of the patients in the placebo group (relative risk with clopidogrel as compared with placebo, 0.80; 95 percent confidence interval, 0.72 to 0.90; P<0.001). The second primary outcome — the first primary outcome or refractory ischemia — occurred in 16.5 percent of the patients in the clopidogrel group and 18.8 percent of the patients in the placebo group (relative risk, 0.86, P<0.001). The percentages of patients with in-hospital refractory or severe ischemia, heart failure, and revascularization procedures were also significantly lower with clopidogrel. There were significantly more patients with major bleeding in the clopidogrel group than in the placebo group (3.7 percent vs. 2.7 percent; relative risk, 1.38; P=0.001), but there were not significantly more patients with episodes of life-threatening bleeding (2.1 percent vs. 1.8 percent, P=0.13) or hemorrhagic strokes.

Conclusions The antiplatelet agent clopidogrel has beneficial effects in patients with acute coronary syndromes without ST-segment elevation. However, the risk of major bleeding is increased among patients treated with clopidogrel.


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The Manuscript Writing Committee (Salim Yusuf, D.Phil., F.R.C.P.C., Feng Zhao, M.Sc., Shamir R. Mehta, M.D., F.R.C.P.C., Susan Chrolavicius, B.Sc., Gianni Tognoni, M.D., and Keith K. Fox, M.D., F.R.C.P.) assumes responsibility for the overall content of the manuscript.

Address reprint requests to Dr. Yusuf at the Canadian Cardiovascular Collaboration Project Office, Population Health Research Institute, McMaster University, Hamilton General Hospital, 237 Barton St. E., Hamilton, ON L8L 2X2, Canada, or at yusufs{at}mcmaster.ca.

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