Platelets
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Prasugrel is a third-generation thienopyridine that inhibits ADP-induced platelet activation by irreversibly blocking the P2Y12 receptor. Given in healthy volunteers in dosages used clinically, it invariably inhibits platelet aggregation. ⋯ However, cases of inadequate platelet inhibition or of the so-called 'resistance' to prasugrel have been occasionally reported. The focus of this review is prasugrel resistance prevalence, mechanisms and potential clinical implications.
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Although there are many new and effective anti-P2Y(12) drugs available, clopidogrel in its original or generic forms will probably remain the most widely used and cheaper option. As clopidogrel is a pro-drug, there is marked heterogeneity in drug responsiveness between individuals and lack of responsiveness is associated with poorer clinical outcomes. ⋯ Monitoring of P2Y(12) inhibition and/or identification of loss of function cytochrome P-450 genotypes could, therefore, offer the potential of tailoring therapy by identifying poor responders to clopidogrel and optimizing the levels of platelet inhibition using, for example, alternative drugs such as prasugrel or ticagrelor. The question remains whether any of these tests have prognostic utility with a defined therapeutic window to reliably identify hypo or hyper-responsive patients who may have an increased risk of thrombosis or bleeding, respectively? Once such patients are identified, can the tests then be subsequently used to demonstrate a change or improvement in platelet reactivity by using alternative therapies and equate this with improved clinical outcome? In this review, we describe an overview of the current platelet and genetic tests available and discuss whether these tests will ever become used routinely.
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Romiplostim, a thrombopoiesis-stimulating peptibody, represents a new therapeutic option in adult refractory chronic immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). This study aimed to assess the short-term efficacy and safety of romiplostim in children with chronic ITP. Eight non-splenectomized patients with chronic ITP refractory to standard lines of medical therapy were recruited from the Pediatric Hematology Unit, Children's Hospital, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt. ⋯ Most reported adverse events were mild and transient. This case series study reveals variable response rate in children with chronic ITP to romiplostim therapy; addition of steroids especially in emergency bleeding situations could potentiate romiplostim thrombopoietic effect even in patients initially refractory to steroids. Romiplostim safety and efficacy in pediatric ITP needs further long-term studies.
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Little is known about the antiplatelet action of the thienopyridines, clopidogrel and prasugrel, as well as the non-thienopyridine, ticagrelor, in patients suffering from ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) complicated by cardiogenic shock since systematic comparisons of these antiplatelet agents in this devastating condition are limited so far. This is a report of a patient with STEMI undergoing urgent PCI in cardiogenic shock followed by repeated angioplasty after suffering early stent thrombosis (ST) who showed dual thienopyridine treatment failure of clopidogrel and prasugrel, which was successfully overcome by switching the patient to the non-thienopyridine derivative ticagrelor.
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Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Study on the relationship between mean platelet volume and platelet distribution width with coronary artery lesion in children with Kawasaki disease.
Mean platelet volume (MPV) and platelet distribution width (PDW) are correlated with platelet function and may be a more sensitive index than platelet number as a marker of clinical interest in various disorders. Therefore, this study was designed to answer the following questions: do MPV and PDW levels change in Kawasaki disease (KD), is there any relation between CAL in children with MPV and PDW and whether MPV and PDW might support a diagnosis of incomplete KD. A total of 309 KD patients and 160 sex-age matched healthy subjects were enrolled into the study. ⋯ However, MPV and PDW were significantly lower in patients with iKD than in group with cKD (p = 0.003, p = 0.014, respectively). It was first shown that patients with KD have lower MPV and PDW than control subjects. The diagnosis of iKD is challenging but can be supported by the presence of lower MPV and PDW.