New heart drug 'not a magic bullet, but very exciting'
Last updated: Friday, July 15, 2005
It's being hailed as the biggest breakthrough in a decade, and one that could benefit half of all people suffering from heart trouble. But you should still speak to your doctor before starting to take Plavix, says a top local cardiologist.
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Announced in the New England Journal of Medicine and The Lancet last week, Plavix is being hailed as the biggest breakthrough in the fight against heart disease in a decade.
It's particularly significant for South Africa, where around 110 people die of cardiovascular disease each day and which has the world's third-highest incidence of the disease.
Professor Pat Comerford, the national coordinator for the study and a cardiologist at the University of Cape Town (UCT), told YourHealth: "It's a very exciting breakthrough because there have been no definite advances in the treatment of this group in a decade.
"But it's not a magic bullet. When it's used in combination with aspirin, other appropriate medications and lifestyle changes such as regular exercise, giving up smoking, and sensible eating, it will be very effective. But you certainly won't be able to go the chemist and ask for it and you should see your doctor before taking it."
Cuts risk by a quarter
Trials involving 12 500 in South Africa and 27 other countries showed that the daily combination of aspirin and clopidogrel – marketed under brand name Plavix – reduced by 20-25% the risk of the patient dying of heart disease, having a second heart attack or suffering a stroke.
Around half of people who suffer from heart attacks would benefit from the drug, Prof Comerford says. The Heart Foundation reports that around 180 South Africans day of the disease each day.
The combination of aspirin and clopidogrel reduces the blood clotting that can lead to heart attacks or strokes, and eases blood flow. The benefit of taking the drug starts to become apparent within about six hours and reaches maximum effectiveness with a month, The Lancet says.
Plavix is tailored for people who have recently had heart attack, stroke, or have poor circulation in the legs.
Clotting causes trouble
Many factors can trigger a heart attack or stroke, but a common cause is blood clots. Clotting is a natural and necessary defence mechanism of the body, protecting you from bleeding too much when you cut yourself. As you bleed, cells in your blood, called platelets, stick to each other and help form a clot.
Clot formation can also be triggered by plaque (a buildup of fatty deposits) inside the wall of a blood vessel. When platelets group together on or near the plaque, they can lead to the formation of a clot that obstructs blood flow. When the clot blocks the flow of blood to the brain or heart, it can cause a stroke or heart attack. William Smook – YourHealth writer
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