Stent thrombosis: Patient card on discontinuing clopidogrel is available

doi:10.1136/bmj.39086.917720.1F

BMJ 2007;334:57 (13 January), doi:10.1136/bmj.39086.917720.1F

Letters

Stent thrombosis

Patient card on discontinuing clopidogrel is available

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

Gershlik and Richardson mention the use of warningcards that indicate the recommended length of clopidogrel treatment.¹The United Kingdom Clinical Pharmacy Association (UKCPA) hasdeveloped the Barts and the London clopidogrel card, designedto be given to all patients receiving combination treatmentafter angioplasty.

The card informs the patient of the importanceof dual therapy and the reasons why clopidogrel has been initiated,daily dose, the combination with aspirin, together with theplanned duration of treatment, and possible adverse effects.It also encourages the patient to show the card to any medicalpersonnel and thereby offers important information regardingthe clopidogrel and aspirin treatment to patient and medicalpersonnel, such that doctors and other paramedical personneldo not discontinue therapy without due consideration. The cardoffers encouragement for further discussion and liaison regardingthe patient's treatment with his or her general practitioner,or with the hospital initiating therapy.

We . . . [Full text of this article]

Sotiris Antoniou, principal pharmacist, cardiac services sotiris.antoniou@bartsandthelondon.nhs.uk, Martin T Rothman, professor of interventional cardiology

¹ Barts and the London NHS Trust, London EC1A 7BE