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Updated: Apr 26, 2026

Interventional Diagnostic Procedure: A Practical Guide for the Assessment of Coronary Vascular Function
Published on: March 15, 2022
Interplay between genetic and clinical variables affecting platelet reactivity and cardiac adverse events in patients
Jolanta M Siller-Matula1, Irene M Lang1, Thomas Neunteufl1
1Department of Cardiology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
Insights
This study identifies key clinical and genetic factors, including diabetes, acute coronary syndrome, and specific CYP2C19 gene variants, that predict high on-treatment platelet reactivity (HTPR). HTPR and older age are the strongest predictors of major adverse cardiac events (MACE).
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Pharmacogenomics
- Clinical Research
Background:
- High on-treatment platelet reactivity (HTPR) is linked to adverse cardiovascular outcomes.
- Clinical and genetic factors are known to influence HTPR, but their combined impact requires further elucidation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose a path model explaining the concurrent impact of clinical and genetic variables on HTPR and ischemic events.
- To develop a novel score for predicting HTPR based on identified risk factors.
Main Methods:
- Prospective cohort study of 416 patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention treated with clopidogrel and aspirin.
- Assessment of CYP2C19*2, CYP2C19*17, ABCB1, PON1 alleles, and platelet function via Multiple Electrode Aggregometry.
- Structural equation modeling used to develop a path model and calculate a novel HTPR prediction score; 12-month follow-up for major adverse cardiac events (MACE).
Main Results:
- Diabetes mellitus, acute coronary syndrome (ACS), and CYP2C19*2 and CYP2C19*17 genetic variants independently predicted HTPR.
- A novel score using these four variables predicted HTPR with an odds ratio of 3.8.
- HTPR and age (especially ≥75 years) were the strongest independent predictors of MACE.
Conclusions:
- A pathway model effectively explains the interplay between clinical factors, genetic variants, HTPR, and MACE.
- The identified clinical and genetic factors provide a basis for a new HTPR prediction score.
- HTPR in conjunction with advanced age significantly increases the risk of major adverse cardiac events.
Abstract:
Several clinical and genetic variables are associated with influencing high on treatment platelet reactivity (HTPR). The aim of the study was to propose a path model explaining a concurrent impact among variables influencing HTPR and ischemic events. In this prospective cohort study polymorphisms of CYP2C19*2, CYP2C19*17, ABCB1, PON1 alleles and platelet function assessed by Multiple Electrode Aggregometry were assessed in 416 patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention treated with clopidogrel and aspirin. The rates of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) were recorded during a 12-month follow up. The path model was calculated by a structural equation modelling. Paths from two clinical characteristics (diabetes mellitus and acute coronary syndrome (ACS)) and two genetic variants (CYP2C19*2 and CYP2C19*17) independently predicted HTPR (path coefficients: 0.11 0.10, 0.17, and -0.10, respectively; p<0.05 for all). By use of those four variables a novel score for prediction of HTPR was built: in a factor-weighted model the risk for HTPR was calculated with an OR of 3.8 (95%CI: 3.1-6.8, p<0.001) for a score level of ≥1 compared with a score of <1. While MACE was independently predicted by HTPR and age in the multivariate model (path coefficient: 0.14 and 0.13, respectively; p<0.05), the coexistence of HTPR and age ≥75 years emerged as the strongest predictor of MACE. Our study suggests a pathway, which might explain indirect and direct impact of variables on clinical outcome: ACS, diabetes mellitus, CYP2C19*2 and CYP2C19*17 genetic variants independently predicted HTPR. In turn, age ≥75 years and HTPR were the strongest predictors of MACE.
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