Clinical significance of the clopidogrel-proton pump inhibitor interaction after peripheral endovascular intervention for claudication.

Objective: Despite numerous studies in the cardiology literature, the clinical impact of proton pump inhibitor (PPI) administration on the antiplatelet effect of clopidogrel remains controversial. The objective of this study is to evaluate the effects of concurrent PPI and clopidogrel administration on outcomes after percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and stenting (PTA&S) of the superficial femoral artery (SFA) for claudication.

Methods: Retrospective review of a prospectively maintained database (2004-2010) identified patients undergoing PTA&S of the SFA for lifestyle-limiting claudication (Rutherford Class III). Statistical analysis included univariate comparison (Wilcoxon, chi-square) of demographics, lesion characteristics, complication rates, and outcome measures. Patency comparisons were made with Cox-PH multivariable models and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis.

Results: Totally, 109 limbs were treated in 103 patients. All were prescribed clopidogrel for 1 month; concurrent PPI use (+PPI) was identified after 42 (38.5%) interventions. There were no statistically significant differences in demographics, comorbidity prevalence, lesion length, degree of stenosis, or runoff associated with PPI use. There were no cases of early thrombosis in either group. There were more instances of patency loss (28 [50%] vs 21 [42%]; P = .40) in patients with +PPI, and a trend toward reduced primary patency that did not achieve statistical significance (P = .5). By multivariate analysis only TransAtlantic Inter-Society Consensus (TASC) D lesions were independent predictors of primary (hazards ratio [HR] = 4.366; [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.291-14.764; P = .018) and assisted patency loss (HR = 6.815 [1.181-39.327]; P = .032).

Conclusions: The clinical significance of the clopidogrel-PPI interaction is a controversial topic that has been the subject of numerous studies in the cardiology literature. This is the first report to examine this medication interaction after peripheral intervention. While there is no apparent association between PPI coadministration with clopidogrel in this series, the high prevalence of PPI use among patients prescribed clopidogrel following peripheral intervention warrants ongoing attention to this purported medication interaction.