While the CHARISMA trial (Clopidogrel for High Atherothrombotic Risk and Ischemic Stabilization, Management and Avoidance) results have shown no benefit overall of the combination of Clopidogrel and aspirin in the long term in stable vascular patients, and some indication of harm in patients in primary prevention, the ESC would like to remind patients that dual antiplatelet therapy is an essential, approved and recommended therapy for one year in patients post ACS without ST-segment elevation, and for at least six months post stenting.

"Patients taking Clopidogrel (Plavix) should not stop taking the anti-clotting drug without first consulting their physician," said ESC spokesperson on Acute Coronary Syndromes, Professor Freek Verheugt from Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands. "Patients who stop taking Clopidogrel without seeking the advice of their doctor may be putting themselves in grave danger."

For more information, please see current ESC guidelines for "Percutaneous Coronary Intervention" (1) (http://www.escardio.org/knowledge/guidelines/PCI-Guidelines.htm) and "Acute Coronary Syndromes in Patients Presenting Without Persistent ST-Segment Elevation" (2) (http://www.escardio.org/knowledge/guidelines/Management_ACS_without_persistent_ST-segment_elevation.htm).

The CHARISMA trial was presented at the Annual Scientific Sessions of the American College of Cardiology in March 2006 and simultaneously published on the website of The New England Journal of Medicine (http://content.nejm.org/).

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Contact: Lisa Abdolian
labdolian@escardio.org
33-049-294-8627
European Society of Cardiology
17-Mar-2006

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