Risk of intracranial injury after minor head trauma in patients with pre-injury use of clopidogrel

Abstract

Background Clopidogrel is an adenosine diphosphate receptor antagonist. The risk of intracranial hemorrhage following minor head trauma in patients with pre-injury use of clopidogrel has not been fully determined. Methods This case-controlled study examined the effects of pre-injury use of clopidogrel in adult (age 14 years and older) patients with minor head trauma. Results During the study period, 1660 patients head computed tomography scans were performed in the emergency department, of which 658 met inclusion criteria. Intracranial hemorrhage was noted in 30% of patients on clopidogrel, compared with 2.2% of those patients without pre-injury use of clopidogrel. After performing a logistic regression analysis for confounders, the pre-injury use of clopidogrel was significantly associated with intracranial hemorrhage in this study population (OR 16.7; 95% CI 1.71-162.7). Conclusion The use of clopidogrel is associated with a significantly increased risk of developing intracranial hemorrhage following minor trauma. © 2013 Elsevier Inc.