Summary
High residual platelet aggregability and circulating platelet-monocyte aggregates
in patients administered aspirin and clopidogrel are associated with ischaemic vascular
events. To determine the relevance of these factors with residual thrombogenicity,
we measured platelet thrombus formation using a microchip-based flow-chamber system
in cardiac patients receiving aspirin and/or clopidogrel, and evaluated its correlation
with agonist-inducible platelet aggregation and platelet-monocyte aggregates. Platelet
thrombus formation was analysed by measuring flow pressure changes due to the occlusion
of micro-capillaries and was quantified by calculating AUC10 (area under the flow pressure curve). The growth and stability of platelet thrombi
that formed inside microchips at shear rates of 1000, 1500, and 2000 s-1 were markedly reduced in patients receiving aspirin and/or thienopyridine compared
to healthy controls (n=33). AUC10 values of aspirin therapy patients (n=20) were significantly lower and higher than
those of healthy controls and dual antiplatelet therapy patients (n=19), respectively,
and showed relatively good correlations with collagen-induced platelet aggregation
and platelet-monocyte aggregates at 1000 and 1500 s-1 (r
s
>0.59, p<0.01). In contrast, AUC10 in dual antiplatelet therapy patients was significantly correlated with ADP-induced
platelet aggregation at all examined shear rates (r
s
>0.59, p<0.01), but did not correlate with collagen-induced aggregation. Aspirin monotherapy
patients with high residual platelet thrombogenicity also exhibited significant elevations
in both collagen-induced platelet aggregation and platelet-monocyte aggregates. Our
results, although preliminary, suggest that residual platelet thrombogenicity in aspirin-treated
patients is associated with either collagen-induced platelet aggregation or circulating
platelet-monocyte aggregates, but it is predominantly dependent on ADP-induced platelet
aggregation in patients receiving dual antiplatelet therapy.
Keywords
Antiplatelet therapy - aspirin - clopidogrel - platelet thrombus - blood flow