Clopidogrel in coronary artery disease: update 2012.

For many years clopidogrel was the 'gold standard' ADP receptor antagonist in patients with coronary artery disease in combination with acetylsalicylic acid, i.e. in elective/stable patients after coronary stent implantation and in patients with acute coronary syndromes with/without percutaneous coronary intervention. For the latter group, in which the risk of atherothrombotic events is increased, the new ADP receptor-antagonists, e.g. prasugrel and ticagrelor, have shown their superiority over clopidogrel. This is mainly based on the fact that up to 30% of patients with acute coronary syndromes tend to be low- or non-responders to therapy due to non-genetic and/or genetic causes. Nevertheless, there is still room for the use of clopidogrel in the majority of patients with coronary artery disease. This review summarizes the latest knowledge of clopidogrel and its current indications.