Semin Thromb Hemost 2005; 31(4): 411-415
DOI: 10.1055/s-2005-916675
Copyright © 2005 by Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc., 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Monitoring Acetylsalicylic Acid Effects with the Platelet Function Analyzer PFA-100

Martin Feuring1 , Armin Schultz1 , Ralf Losel1 , Martin Wehling1 , 2
  • 1Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Faculty of Clinical Medicine Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Germany
  • 2Professor of Clinical Pharmacology
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Publication History

Publication Date:
07 September 2005 (online)

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ABSTRACT

The efficacy of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) to prevent thrombotic or embolic events in patients with atherosclerosis was demonstrated in many large trials. Despite this fact, a subpopulation of patients experiences acute myocardial infarction or cerebrovascular ischemia indicating a nonresponsiveness to ASA. These patients would be candidates for an alternative or additional antiplatelet therapy, if they could be reliably identified. The aim of the monitoring of ASA therapy should be the identification of nonresponders to prevent a long-term intake of the drug without adequate benefit, to justify a dose escalation, or to initiate an alternative antiplatelet drug therapy.

Considerable progress has been made in the measurement of platelet function. One of the novel devices employed is the platelet function analyzer PFA-100, which was already tested in several studies involving patients with atherothrombosis to detect nonresponsiveness to ASA. Many of these investigations indicate that the PFA-100 could be used for routine identification of nonresponders to ASA and-probably also-for tailoring antiplatelet therapy. The aim of this article is to summarize the data obtained from the studies focusing on the monitoring of ASA therapy by the PFA-100.

REFERENCES

 Prof. Dr.
M. Wehling

Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Faculty of Clinical Medicine Mannheim, University of Heidelberg

68135 Mannheim, Germany

Email: martin.wehling@kpha.ma.uni-heidelberg.de