A recent clinical study, (the CURE trial) compared the use of the clopidogrel/acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) combination to ASA alone in 12,562 patients with ACS. This treatment was used to prevent vascular events such as stroke, heart attack or death from cardiac causes. The results of the CURE trial showed a lower rate of a cluster of these vascular events in patients treated with the clopidogrel/ASA combination after an episode of ACS, compared to patients treated with ASA alone. This suggests a possible first-line role for the more expensive combination of clopidogrel/ASA in patients with Acute coronary syndromes (ACS). Prior to the release of the CURE trial, ASA was considered the first choice of treatment for most patients with ACS and clopidogrel as an alternative.

The aim of this report was to examine the use of the clopidogrel/ASA combination in the prevention of vascular events after an ACS; - to determine the population most likely to benefit from this intervention, and - to assess the efficacy and safety of this intervention in this population.