The treatment of clopidogrel resistance: Triple antiplatelet therapy and future directions

Despite the clinical benefit achieved with the adjunct of clopidogrel in percutaneous coronary intervention, a considerable number of patients continue to have cardiovascular events. There are accumulating evidences that recurrence of ischemic complications may be attributed to poor response to clopidogrel. However, current therapeutic alternatives for treatment of clopidogrel resistance remain limited. More aggressive intervention with higher doses of clopidogrel and the use of newer antiplatelet agents may help overcome resistance to antiplatelet agents.