Platelet function measured using a whole blood aggregometer can predict bleeding events.
OBJECTIVE
We hypothesized that excessive suppression of platelet function due to antiplatelet therapy can increase the incidence of bleeding complications. The aim of the present study was to find whether we could predict bleeding events by measuring platelet function.


METHODS
We enrolled 743 subjects whose platelet function was measured using a whole blood aggregometer based on a screen filtration pressure method. Of these subjects, 551 (74.2%) were treated with some type of antiplatelet agent. The endpoints were bleeding or ischemic events requiring hospitalization or extension of hospital stay. We prospectively compared the platelet function of subjects with and without bleeding or ischemic events.


RESULTS
During 556 ± 207 days of follow-up, 52 (7.0%) bleeding events and 20 (2.7%) ischemic events were observed. Kaplan-Meier analysis using the log-rank test revealed that an aggregation rate of < 20% induced by 8 µ M adenosine diphosphate (ADP) was significantly associated with a greater number of bleeding events (11.9% vs. 5.2%; p = 0.0007). Cox proportional hazards model showed that age > 75 years (hazard ratio [HR], 1.78; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.03-3.10; p = 0.039), estimated glomerular filtration rate < 60 ml/min/1.73 m(2) (HR, 1.82; 95% CI, 1.06-3.18; p = 0.031) and aggregation rate < 20% induced by 8 µ M ADP (HR, 2.18; 95% CI, 1.24-3.80; p = 0.0071) were independent predictors of bleeding events.


CONCLUSIONS
Low platelet function demonstrated using a whole blood aggregometer was an independent predictor of bleeding complications.
Department of Cardiology, Chugoku Workers Compensation Hospital, Kure, Japan. rjrgw059@ybb.ne.jp
Akinori
A
Sairaku
Yukiko
Y
Nakano
Shin
S
Eno
Tatsuya
T
Hondo
Keiji
K
Matsuda
Tomohiko
T
Kisaka
Yasuki
Y
Kihara
D000368:Aged; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000502:physiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000097:blood; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020521:Stroke / Q000097:blood