Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 24, 2026

Microfluidics in Assessing Platelet Function
06:47

Microfluidics in Assessing Platelet Function

Published on: November 8, 2024

Evolving role of platelet function testing in coronary artery interventions

Rakesh K Sharma1, Donald J Voelker, Rohit Sharma

  • 1Medical Center of South Arkansas, Heart and Vascular Institute, 700 West Grove Street, El Dorado, AR 71730, USA. rsharma@uams.edu

Vascular Health and Risk Management
|February 29, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Dual antiplatelet therapy with aspirin and clopidogrel significantly reduces ischemic events. Variable responses to these drugs highlight the need for platelet function testing to guide therapy, especially in high-risk patients.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Pharmacology
  • Clinical Trials

Background:

  • Dual antiplatelet therapy (aspirin and clopidogrel) is standard for acute coronary syndromes and percutaneous coronary intervention.
  • Variable patient responses to clopidogrel have raised concerns, prompting research into pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic, and pharmacogenomic factors.
  • Platelet function testing, once a research tool, now predicts mortality and guides the development of new antiplatelet agents.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the controversy surrounding variable antiplatelet drug response and the role of platelet function testing.
  • To identify patient subgroups who may benefit from routine platelet function testing.
  • To advocate for individualized antiplatelet therapy using predictive algorithms.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing clinical trials and research on antiplatelet drug response.
  • Analysis of the utility of platelet function assays in predicting clinical outcomes.
  • Discussion of pharmacogenomic and pharmacodynamic factors influencing antiplatelet efficacy.

Main Results:

  • Suboptimal platelet inhibition is linked to adverse cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, and peripheral arterial events.
  • Platelet function testing is validated for identifying new drugs and predicting mortality.
  • High-risk patients (e.g., diabetes, complex coronary disease, renal failure) may benefit from testing.

Conclusions:

  • Platelet function testing may be valuable for guiding antiplatelet therapy in specific high-risk populations.
  • Individualized antiplatelet strategies, potentially using platelet function and genetic testing, are needed.
  • Further definitive trials are required to establish routine use of platelet function testing.

Keywords:
acute coronary syndromeclopidogrelcoronary artery diseasecoronary artery stentingplatelet function assayplatelet function testing

More Related Videos

Interventional Diagnostic Procedure: A Practical Guide for the Assessment of Coronary Vascular Function10:28

Interventional Diagnostic Procedure: A Practical Guide for the Assessment of Coronary Vascular Function

Published on: March 15, 2022

Dynamic Multiparameter Platelet Function Assessment Using a Capacitive Biosensor06:32

Dynamic Multiparameter Platelet Function Assessment Using a Capacitive Biosensor

Published on: May 2, 2025

Related Concept Videos

Coronary Artery Disease V: Interprofessional Care01:27

Coronary Artery Disease V: Interprofessional Care

Interprofessional care for coronary artery disease includes pharmacological therapy and revascularization procedures.Pharmacological therapy for Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) aims to manage symptoms, prevent complications, and improve patient outcomes through various classes of medications:Antiplatelet Agents:Aspirin and Clopidogrel: These medications inhibit platelet aggregation, preventing blood clots, which is crucial for avoiding heart attacks and strokes. Doctors often prescribe these...
Antiplatelet Drugs: Prostaglandin Synthesis, P2Y12 and Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa Inhibitors01:20

Antiplatelet Drugs: Prostaglandin Synthesis, P2Y12 and Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa Inhibitors

Antiplatelet drugs emerge as frontline defenders against the insidious threat of thromboembolic diseases, where abnormal clots obstruct vital blood vessels. These drugs stand as bulwarks, inhibiting platelet aggregation and clot formation, thereby mitigating the risk of life-threatening conditions like myocardial infarction, coronary artery disease, and thrombotic strokes.
Prostaglandin synthesis inhibitors, exemplified by the widely known aspirin, wield their power by irreversibly acetylating...
Formation of the Platelet Plug01:22

Formation of the Platelet Plug

The platelet phase, the second stage of hemostasis, commences around 15-20 seconds after an injury. It follows and overlaps with the vascular phase, during which blood vessels constrict to minimize blood loss.
As the injured blood vessel contracts, endothelial cells undergo contraction, revealing collagen fibers in the basement membrane and underlying connective tissue. Furthermore, the plasma membrane of endothelial cells becomes adhesive, preparing the site for platelet adhesion. Platelets...
Peripheral Artery Disease III: Interprofessional Care01:27

Peripheral Artery Disease III: Interprofessional Care

Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) is characterized by narrowed arteries that diminish blood flow to the extremities. Effective management of PAD requires an interprofessional approach involving various healthcare professionals. The critical aspects of interprofessional care for PAD patients focus on risk factor modification, drug therapy, exercise therapy, nutrition therapy, critical limb ischemia care, and interventional radiology and surgical procedures.The primary treatment goal for PAD...
Structure and Function of Platelets01:18

Structure and Function of Platelets

The cell fragments known as platelets are disc-shaped, with an average diameter of about 3 μm and a thickness of roughly 1 μm. They play a crucial role in the body's vascular clotting system, which also involves plasma proteins, blood cells, and blood vessel tissues.
Platelets are continually replenished, circulating in the bloodstream for 9-12 days before being removed by phagocytes, primarily in the spleen. A microliter of circulating blood contains between 150,000 and 450,000 platelets, with...
Dysrhythmias V: Evaluating Dysrhythmias01:30

Dysrhythmias V: Evaluating Dysrhythmias

Dysrhythmias, also known as arrhythmias, are disturbances in the heart's rhythm that range from benign to life-threatening. A thorough evaluation is crucial for appropriate management and involves a comprehensive medical history, physical examination, and various diagnostic tests.Medical HistorySymptoms: Collect detailed information on palpitations, dizziness, syncope, chest pain, and fatigue. Note their onset, frequency, and triggers.Previous Cardiac Issues: Document any history of heart...