Concomitant use of clopidogrel and a proton-pump inhibitor (PPI) does not appear to increase cardiovascular risk beyond that seen with PPIs alone, according to an Annals of Internal Medicine study. (Previous research has suggested a drug interaction, with the FDA warning against using clopidogrel with omeprazole.)

Danish researchers examined registry data on some 56,000 patients discharged after first myocardial infarctions; 16% experienced the primary outcome (cardiovascular death or rehospitalization for MI or stroke) in the first year. In adjusted analyses, risk for the primary outcome was similarly increased (by about one third) among patients who received both a PPI and clopidogrel after MI and among those who received just a PPI, compared with those not receiving PPIs.

The authors say their findings “seem to refute concerns about increased risk for ischemic events during concomitant PPI and clopidogrel therapy.” They say, also, that the risk seen with PPIs alone was likely due to residual confounding.

Source: Annals of Internal Medicine article