title: Plateletworks: a screening assay for clopidogrel therapy monitoring in healthy cats.
abstract: Plateletworks is a screening assay used in human medicine to monitor platelet-inhibiting drugs. As arterial thromboembolism is a common complication in cats suffering from cardiomyopathy, they are often treated with anti-platelet medication. Clopidogrel (Plavix), an anti-platelet aggregation drug, has recently been evaluated in healthy cats. The purpose of this study was to determine if the Plateletworks method can detect a decrease in platelet aggregation in cats receiving clopidogrel. Nine healthy adult cats were used for this study. Platelet aggregation was measured before and after a 3-day clopidogrel treatment (18.75 mg SID). Platelet aggregation after the clopidogrel treatment was significantly lower (P < 0.01). The Plateletworks method appears to be a promising test to monitor clopidogrel therapy in cats.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Université de Montréal, Québec, Canada.
authors.forename: Avril
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hamel-Jolette
authors.forename: Marilyn
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dunn
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bédard