Predicting bleeding risk in PAD patients on antiplatelets using TEG coagulation testing

Bleeding is a major concern while using antithrombotic therapy. While Thromboelastography with Platelet Mapping (TEG-PM) predicts postoperative bleeding and platelet dysfunction in trauma, its utility in peripheral artery disease (PAD) remains unclear. Hence, this study aimed to evaluate whether platelet inhibition (PI) and maximum amplitude of adenosine diphosphate (MA ADP) can predict bleeding risk in PAD.

Patients with PAD undergoing lower extremity revascularization between 2021-2025 were prospectively evaluated and monitored for one year to identify bleeding events. Bleeding events were defined as clinically significant hemorrhages that required medical intervention or transfusion. Patients were stratified based on the occurrence of bleeding, and descriptive statistics characterized each group. The Mann-Whitney U test assessed differences in platelet function, while receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis determined the optimal TEG-PM cutoff values for predicting increased bleeding risk.

A total of 234 patients were analyzed, of whom 14 (5%) experienced a bleeding event. The bleeding cohort exhibited higher platelet inhibition (94.5% vs. 24.1%; p<0.0001) and lower MA ADP (22.4 vs. 52; p<0.0001), suggesting reduced platelet aggregation and clot strength. ROC analysis revealed platelet inhibition >86.4% (AUC: 0.89, sensitivity: 71%, specificity: 92%) and MA ADP <31.9 (AUC: 0.85, sensitivity: 79%, specificity: 85%) as predictive thresholds for bleeding risk.

High platelet inhibition (>86.4%) and low MA ADP (<31.9%) may serve as indicators of bleeding risk in PAD patients on antiplatelets, highlighting the potential utility of TEG-PM in guiding personalized antithrombotic management.