Optical platelet aggregometry does not appear useful as a means of assessing the risk of recurrent vascular events in aspirin-treated patients.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether the results of optical platelet aggregometry indicate the risk of recurrent ischemic events.


METHODS
Cerebro- and cardiovascular patients taking aspirin for at least 30 days were studied retrospectively. Ischemic vascular events occurring prior to testing and the presence of vascular risk factors were recorded.


RESULTS
241 subjects were included. Among the 78 patients (32.4%) who displayed recurrent vascular episodes, the age (62.5 +/- 10.6 vs. 58.4 +/- 11.6, P = 0.009) and the proportion of hypertensives (80.8% vs. 68.1%, P = 0.040) were significantly higher when compared with the participants who exhibited single events. The degree of platelet aggregation did not differ significantly between the patients with and those without recurrent episodes. Logistic regression analysis identified only age (OR 1.033, 95% CI 1.008-1.058, P = 0.010), and not aggregation values, as a risk condition for recurrent vascular episodes.


CONCLUSIONS
Results of optical platelet aggregometry were not indicative of the risk of recurrent vascular events. The role of conventional risk factors appeared to be more important.
Sztriha
L K
LK
Department of Neurology, Albert Szent-Györgyi Medical and Pharmaceutical Center, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary. sztriha@nepsy.szote.u-szeged.hu
Sas
K
K
Seres
E
E
Boda
K
K
Lenti
L
L
Csifcsak
G
G
Kovacs
N
N
Vecsei
L
L
D000368:Aged; D001241:Aspirin / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004351:Drug Resistance / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D001330:Electronic Data Processing / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D002546:Ischemic Attack, Transient / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D010974:Platelet Aggregation / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology
D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D001241:Aspirin