Discontinuation of long-term clopidogrel therapy is associated with death and myocardial infarction after saphenous vein graft percutaneous coronary intervention.

Objectives: This study sought to examine the pattern of death and myocardial infarction (MI) after clopidogrel cessation in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) of the saphenous vein graft (SVG).

Background: The timing and incidence of adverse events by different durations of clopidogrel therapy after SVG PCI remain unknown.

Methods: This is a cohort study of patients undergoing SVG PCI between 2000 and 2009, followed for all-cause mortality or MI after stopping clopidogrel.