Summary
Platelets are key players in atherothrombosis. Antiplatelet therapy comprising aspirin
alone or with P2Y12-inhibitors are effective for prevention of atherothrombotic complications. However,
there is interindividual variability in the response to antiplatelet drugs, leaving
some patients at increased risk of recurrent atherothrombotic events. Several risk
factors associated with high on-treatment platelet reactivity (HTPR), including elevated
platelet turnover, have been identified. Platelet turnover is adequately estimated
from the fraction of reticulated platelets. Reticulated platelets are young platelets,
characterised by residual messenger RNA. They are larger, haemostatically more active
and there is evidence that platelet turnover is a causal and prognostic factor in
atherothrombotic disease. Whether platelet turnover per se represents a key factor
in pathogenesis, progression and prognosis of atherothrombotic diseases (with focus
on acute coronary syndromes) or whether it merely facilitates insufficient platelet
inhibition will be discussed in this state-of-the art review.
Keywords
Platelet turnover - reticulated platelets - mean platelet volume - P2Y
12 inhibitors - aspirin