Thromb Haemostasis
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A high platelet turnover rate produce a population of immature reticulated platelets (RP) that could confer, despite of antiplatelet drugs, a residual platelet reactivity (RPR) in coronary artery disease (CAD) patients. To assess the influence of RP on platelet reactivity in CAD patients on dual antiplatelet therapy we measured RP in 372 patients by using the Sysmex XE-2100 haematology analyzer and platelet function by optical platelet aggregometry (PA) on platelet-rich-plasma induced by 1 mmol arachidonic acid (AA-PA) and 10 microM ADP (ADP-PA). RPR was defined as either AA-PA>20% or ADP-PA>70%. ⋯ At multivariate linear regression analysis these associations were confirmed. Moreover, a logistic regression analysis demonstrated that IPF, H-IPF and MPV significantly influenced the risk of RPR, and in the multivariate model these results remained significant. This study indicates that a high rate of platelet turnover is a new mechanism associated with platelet reactivity in high risk CAD patients on dual antiplatelet therapy.