Measurement of platelet aggregation during antiplatelet therapy in ischemic stroke

Aspirin, ticlopidine and clopidogrel are used as a pharmacological means to efficiently decrease the number of reoccurrence of ischemic stroke (100-325 mg/d). This antiplatelet treatment could prevent the secondary stroke by approximately 22%. Laboratory effective platelet inhibition for the clinician, and methods for routine screening evaluation for the laboratory were studied. (1) For the standardisation of platelet aggregation technology blood samples of 150 healthy persons were studied in 5 centres. CARAT TX computerised optical aggregometer was used for measuring with collagen (2 mug/ml), epinephrine (10 muM), arachidonic acid 0.5 mM and ADP 5 muM as inductors. (2) Laboratory tests were compared in each centres performed in platelet-rich plasma of ischemic cardiovascular and stroke patients (n=823) taking 100-325 mg aspirin/d. (3) Blood samples of 555 ischemic stroke patients treated with aspirin (100-325 mg/d), 96 patients treated with ticlopidine (500 mg/d), and 67 patients treated with clopidogrel (75 mg/d) were evaluated, respectively. (1) The mean of maximal aggregation (%)-2SD of untreated controls (n=150) were detected for collagen with 64%, epinephrine 59% and ADP 62%. (2) In 823 aspirin treated patients were found similar inhibition in different centres with same methods for standardisation. The mean inhibition level was in case of collagen 38%, epinephrine 37% and ADP 61%. (3) The distribution of ineffective platelet inhibition was detected in 17% of aspirin group (collagen and epinephrine), 4% of ticlopidine and 18% of clopidogrel group with ADP, respectively. Our findings were in the stroke cohort: effective inhibition levels: 36% in aspirin group, 73% in ticlopidine and 25% treated with clopidogrel. Platelet aggregation tests could help to find the optimal, and "custom taylored" dose of antiaggregating drugs in the secondary prevention of ischemic stroke.