Influence of clopidogrel on blood concentration of hsC-RP and TNF-α in patients with acute coronary diseases

Objective: To investigate whether clopidogrel can suppress the inflammation and stabilize vulnerable plaque by reducing the plasma concentration of hsC-RP and tumor necrosis factor- alpha(TNF-α). Methods: One hundred and forty-three patients with acute coronary syndrome were randomized into two groups: aspirin (A group) and aspirin + clopidogrel (B group). Patients in A group took 300 mg aspirin for the first time, then 100 mg aspirin every day, whereas patients in B group took 300 mg aspirin and 300 mg clopidogrel for the first time, then 100 mg aspirin and 75 mg clopidogrel every day. The concentrations of hsC-RP and TNF-α for all patients were examined before taking medicine, 7 and 30 days after taking medicine separately and compared with results from 30 healthy volunteers without any treatment (C group). Results: Before taking medicine, the concentrations of hsC-RP and TNF-a in both A and B group were significantly higher than those in C group (P0.001), while 7 days later, they descended significantly(P0.01), and 30 days later, they descended much more significantly(P0.001). Compared with A group, the concentrations of hsC-RP and TNF-α in B group descended more significantly(P0.05) 30 days after taking medicine. Conclusion: Clopidogrel can reduce plasma level of inflammation factors, demonstrating that clopidogrel can reduce the inflammation of arteries and suppress the progress of atherosclerosis, then perhaps improve the prognosis of patients with acute coronary syndrome.