Spontaneous platelet aggregation in patients with acute coronary syndrome

Spontaneous platelet aggregation was evaluated in patients with acute coronary syndrome on days 1, 3-5, and 8-12 of the disease. On day 1, aggregation was analyzed after aspirin, but before clopidogrel administration; during other periods after both antiaggregants. The mean levels of spontaneous aggregation after antithrombotic therapy did not change during different periods after the onset of acute coronary syndrome, in contrast to ADP-induced aggregation that decreased after the development of clopidogrel effects (days 3-5 and 8-12). Spontaneous aggregation during different periods directly correlated (r>0.4, p<0.01) with spontaneous and ADP-induced aggregation during different periods (r=0.372, r=0.447, and r=0.543 on days 1, 3-5, and 8-12, respectively; p<0.01). No relationship between spontaneous aggregation and plasma concentration of von Willebrand's factor was detected. Spontaneous aggregation was completely suppressed after in vitro addition of prostaglandin E1 (platelet activation inhibitor), slightly (by ≈20%) decreased in the presence of antibodies to glycoprotein Ib, blocking its reactions with von Willebrand's factor, and did not change in the presence of aptamer inhibiting thrombin activity.