In patients who have suffered an ischemic stroke or TIA (mini-stroke), as well as in patients who are candidates for neuroendovascular stenting, it is standard of care to treat these patients with antiplatelet therapy, or "blood-thinners", the most common of which is clopidogrel (Plavix) with or without the addition of aspirin. A relatively common problem encountered with these patients is non-responsiveness to clopidogrel therapy. A prior study in cardiac patients showed that the addition of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (Lovaza, or "fish oil") can increase a patient's response to therapy with clopidogrel, but there have been no studies in neuro patients. In this study, patients will be divided into one of two groups: in the study arm, patients will receive clopidogrel +/- aspirin as well as Lovaza. In the control arm, patients will only receive clopidogrel +/- aspirin. Assays will be done to measure responsiveness to clopdiogrel on days 0, 12-24 hours after loading dose, day 3-5 if still inpatient, and at a follow-up visit 20-30 days after the start of the study. The investigators believe that this study will show an increase in platelet aggregation in patients receiving both clopidogrel and Lovaza.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
60
Lovaza, 1 gram orally daily
Millmore Fillmore Gates Hospital
Buffalo, New York, United States
RECRUITINGPRU and % inhibition of P2Y12 Assay
Time frame: 20-30 days after initiation of the study
Neurologic events in each study
Time frame: 20-30 days after initiation of study
HDL, triglycerides, LDL, or total cholesterol
Time frame: 20-30 days after initiation of the study
Bleeding
Time frame: 20-30 days
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