Platelet reactivity over time in coronary artery disease patients treated with a bioabsorbable everolimus-eluting...

Everolimus-eluting bioabsorbable scaffolds (BVSs) have exhibited similar long-term clinical outcomes compared to its everolimus-eluting metallic counterparts. However, reports from earlier studies have shown a signal for an increased rate of stent thrombosis. The aim of the current investigation is to describe the platelet reactivity profiles over time in patients treated with everolimus-eluting BVS in comparison to everolimus-eluting metallic stents. This is a pilot study in which patients on aspirin and clopidogrel with at least 1 everolimus-eluting BVS were included (n = 24). Patients with at least 1 everolimus-eluting metallic stent implanted were included as control group (n = 25). Blood samples were taken at time of discharge and at 3- and 6-month follow-up. Platelet function tests included VerifyNow (VN-P2Y12), multiplate aggregometry (MEA), and light transmission aggregometry (LTA). There was no difference in platelet reactivity at discharge, 3- and 6-month visits (unadjusted p = 0.733 and p = 0.582; p = 0.432 and p = 0.899 after adjusting for discharge value platelet reactivity0, respectively) using VN-P2Y12. Similar findings were observed with LTA. However, patients with BVS showed significantly higher platelet reactivity than patients with metallic stents at 3 and 6 months in the crude analysis (p = 0.003) and after adjusting for discharge value (p = 0.013) measured with ADP-MEA. There were no differences in platelet reactivity mediated by the T × A₂ pathway between both groups. Finally, there is no statistical difference in high on-clopidogrel platelet reactivity (HPR) rate between both groups. The results of this pilot study suggest that BVS might have different platelet reactivity profiles, and warrants further investigation in dedicated clinical studies.