Stroke: Take test for genetic variant to ensure clopidogrel works for prevention, says NICE

People who have had an ischaemic stroke or transient ischaemic attack should take a genetic test to see whether they can be treated with clopidogrel to reduce their risk of recurrence, the UK National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has said in draft guidance.1NICE currently recommends that clopidogrel can be used as an option for treating people at risk of a secondary stroke, but this treatment is not suitable for those with certain variations in a gene called CYP2C19 because they cannot convert the drug to the active form.Currently there is no testing to see who can take clopidogrel safely, and offering patients the genotype test will allow doctors to identify which patients need an alternative antiplatelet treatment, said NICE.If laboratory testing, estimated to cost around £139 a test, is not available, NICE said that the Genomadix Cube point-of-care test, which costs £197, can be used instead.An estimated 32%…
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