Risk of massive upper gastrointestinal bleeding in gastric bypass patients taking clopidogrel

BACKGROUND: The antiplatelet drug clopidogrel (Plavix) is widely used in patients who have undergone coronary artery stenting or had a stroke. Because morbid obesity is associated with atherosclerosis, some of these patients are candidates for weight loss surgery. We chose to determine the risk of upper gastrointestinal bleeding after gastric bypass in patients taking clopidogrel. METHODS: Patients who took clopidogrel after gastric bypass were identified by specific review of the subset of patients who had had upper gastrointestinal bleeding requiring hospital admission and transfusion. All who bled underwent emergency endoscopy. RESULTS: Of 11 patients taking clopidogrel, 4 (36%) presented with significant upper gastrointestinal bleeding 25-234 days after gastric bypass. All stopped bleeding with discontinuation of the drug and treatment with an intravenous proton pump inhibitor. CONCLUSION: Gastric bypass patients appear to be at high risk of bleeding complications when taking clopidogrel. On the basis of the available published data from another high-risk group (i.e., those with a history of peptic ulcer disease), co-treatment with omeprazole may be indicated when clopidogrel must be continued.