Aspirin resistance: mechanisms and clinical implications

Acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin) has been shown to irreversibly interfere with platelet function, an effect that is associated with a reduction in morbid and mortal arterial thrombotic events in multiple clinical studies. This clinical benefit appears to be attenuated by resistance to the antiplatelet effects of aspirin in up to 35% of patients. The mechanisms for aspirin resistance are multifactorial and include noncompliance with aspirin therapy, diabetes mellitus, cell-cell and drug-drug interactions, genetic polymorphisms, and coronary artery disease. It has not been determined what the best laboratory procedure is to screen for aspirin resistance. Those individuals at high risk for aspirin resistance might best be treated with an additional oral antiplatelet drug (eg, clopidogrel) to achieve maximal protection against arterial thrombotic events.