NICE RELEASES NEW GUIDELINES FOR CLOPIDOGREL PRESCRIPTION

NICE has issued new guidelines on the use of Clopidogrel, an antiplatelet medication used to prevent further ischaemic strokes or transient ischaemic attacks (TIAs). The latest recommendations now advocate for pharmacogenomic (PGx) testing for patients who have previously experienced a stroke or TIA.

According to NICE:

“Clopidogrel is an antiplatelet drug used after ischaemic stroke or TIA (sometimes called a 'mini stroke') to reduce the risk of blood clots that can cause further strokes. Clopidogrel is metabolised into its active form by an enzyme encoded by a gene called CYP2C19. In some people CYP2C19 has variations that reduce the enzyme's function (known as 'loss-of-function' variants or alleles). This means clopidogrel does not work as well in these people. Testing for these alleles is known as CYP2C19 genotype testing. It aims to identify people with CYP2C19 loss-of-function alleles so they can be offered alternative antiplatelet drugs to lower their risk of blood clots.”

For the full update, click on the link below:

To view Mantara’s press release on the new guidelines, click on the link below: