Do proton pump inhibitors attenuate the effect of aspirin on platelet aggregation? A randomized crossover study

It is common practice to coadminister proton pump inhibitors with aspirin to diminish the risk of upper gastrointestinal bleeding. This is the first study that investigated the potential impact of a proton pump inhibitor on aspirin effects on platelet aggregation. Twenty-four hypertensive subjects eligible for treatment with low-dose enteric-coated aspirin (LDECA) for primary prevention of cardiovascular disease were randomized to receive 100 mg LDECA or 100 mg LDECA plus 30 mg lansoprazole for 4 weeks. Then, participants were crossed over to the alternative regimen for another 4 weeks. Salicylic, gastrin, and pepsinogen I blood level counting were used to ensure adherence to treatment. Platelet aggregation was evaluated by light transmittance aggregometry and PFA100. The LDECA administration reduced arachidonic acid (P < 0.001), collagen (P < 0.01), and epinephrine (P < 0.001) tests. These changes paralleled an increase in collagen/epinephrine duration (P < 0.001) but not in collagen/adenosine diphosphate duration and platelet count. No significant difference was found in any of these platelets' function tests with LDECA alone versus LDECA plus lansoprazole. A significant increase in salicylic levels was observed in patients on LDECA as well as in those on LDECA plus lansoprazole, whereas gastrin and pepsinogen I levels were increased only when lansoprazole was added. These data suggest that the concomitant use of the lansoprazole at 30-mg daily does not influence the long-term effect of LDECA on platelet aggregation. Furthermore, they might imply that an interaction of LDECA with other proton pump inhibitors on platelet aggregation is unlikely.