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Published on: April 1, 2019
CYP2C19 genotype-guided antiplatelet therapy in a patient with clopidogrel resistance
Mridula Rai1, Richard L Seip, Ankur Gupta
1Hartford Hospital, Hartford, USA. mrai@harthosp.org
Insights
Switching antiplatelet medication based on genetic testing and platelet function improved outcomes for a patient with coronary artery disease. Personalized therapy reduced cardiovascular events by addressing clopidogrel resistance.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Pharmacogenomics
Background:
- Severe coronary arterial disease necessitates antiplatelet therapy, often with clopidogrel, to prevent stent thrombosis.
- Clopidogrel efficacy is dependent on activation by the cytochrome P450 2C19 (CYP2C19) enzyme.
Observation:
- A 74-year-old male with coronary artery disease exhibited high on-clopidogrel platelet reactivity despite long-term therapy.
- The patient had undergone multiple percutaneous coronary interventions for stenosis and in-stent restenosis.
Findings:
- CYP2C19 genotype testing revealed the patient was homozygous for the *2 null allele, classifying him as a poor metabolizer.
- Switching to prasugrel, an antiplatelet agent not dependent on CYP2C19 activation, reduced platelet reactivity by 86%.
Implications:
- Pharmacogenetic testing (CYP2C19 genotype) can identify patients with clopidogrel resistance.
- Personalized antiplatelet therapy selection based on genotype and platelet function can optimize outcomes in patients with coronary artery disease.
- This approach may reduce cardiovascular events in patients with poor clopidogrel metabolizer status.
Abstract:
We report a switch in antiplatelet medication based on platelet function and CYP2C19 genotype test results in a 74-year-old man with severe coronary arterial disease. Upon bare metal stent implantation at age 66, clopidogrel therapy (75 mg/ day) was initiated to supplement aspirin. Over the next eight years, the patient required multiple percutaneous coronary interventions for de novo coronary stenosis and in-stent restenosis. Platelet reactivity measured while on clopidogrel therapy was high, consistent with clopidogrel resistance. CYP2C19 genotype testing then revealed homozygosity for the *2 null allele. The *2/*2 designation indicates poor metabolizer status, indicating deficient capacity of the cytochrome p450 2C19 enzyme for activation of clopidogrel. A medication switch to prasugrel,which does not rely on activation by the 2C19 enzyme, reduced platelet reactivity by 86%. The patient has suffered no cardiovascular events in the 18 months since initiation of prasugrel therapy.
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