Platelet Reactivity in Patients on Aspirin and Clopidogrel Therapy Measured by a New Bedside Whole-Blood Assay

J Cardiovasc Pharmacol. 2019 Jan;73(1):40-47. doi: 10.1097/FJC.0000000000000631.

Abstract

Various tests are available for measuring on-treatment platelet reactivity. The pharmacologically most specific assays are time-consuming and elaborate. A highly specific and convenient assay would be desirable for clinical routine. In this pilot study, we aimed to examine the ability of a novel bedside whole-blood assay-ROTEM platelet-to evaluate platelet inhibition compared with established assays. Platelet reactivity was investigated in 93 patients. Forty-Seven patients were on permanent aspirin therapy and 46 on dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) with aspirin and clopidogrel. We used ROTEM platelet impedance aggregometry (ROTEM-PTL), light transmission aggregometry (LTA), Multiplate electrode aggregometry (MEA) and vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein flow cytometry. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses showed ROTEM-PTL differentiates well between patients on medication and healthy individuals: aspirin: ROCAUC 0.99 (95% confidence interval, 0.97-1.01); P < 0.0001; DAPT treatment: ROCAUC 0.80 (95% confidence interval, 0.69-0.91); P < 0.001. Pearson regression analyses showed moderate correlations between assays. Aspirin: MEA versus ROTEM-PTL r = 0.435, P ≤ 0.001; LTA versus ROTEM-PTL r = 0.048, P = 0.180. DAPT: MEA versus ROTEM-PTL r = 0.398, P = 0.001; LTA versus ROTEM-PTL r = 0.409, P = 0.001; vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein versus ROTEM-PTL r = 0.164, P = 0.055. ROTEM platelet distinguished well between treated and healthy individuals but correlated moderately with other assays. Clinical trials are needed to investigate the ability of this new assay to identify patients at risk of adverse events.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Observational Study

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Aspirin / adverse effects
  • Aspirin / therapeutic use*
  • Biomarkers / blood
  • Blood Platelets / drug effects*
  • Blood Platelets / metabolism
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules / blood
  • Clopidogrel / adverse effects
  • Clopidogrel / therapeutic use*
  • Drug Monitoring / methods*
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Female
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Microfilament Proteins / blood
  • Phosphoproteins / blood
  • Pilot Projects
  • Platelet Aggregation / drug effects*
  • Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / adverse effects
  • Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / therapeutic use*
  • Platelet Function Tests*
  • Point-of-Care Testing*
  • Predictive Value of Tests

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules
  • Microfilament Proteins
  • Phosphoproteins
  • Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors
  • vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein
  • Clopidogrel
  • Aspirin