Feasibility of monitoring clopidogrel resistance with flow cytometric analysis of platelet vasodilator stimulated phosphoprotein phosphorylation / 南方医科大学学报

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the feasibility of monitoring clopidogrel resistance with flow cytometric analysis of platelet vasodilator stimulated phosphoprotein (VASP) phosphorylation.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Twenty patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) and 17 healthy volunteers were examined for platelet aggregation rate and phosphorylation of VASP (calculated as platelet reactivity index, PRI) using traditional optical nephelometry and flow cytometry before and after concurrent therapy of clopidogrel and aspirin.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>No significant differences were found in PRI between CHD group and healthy control group [(89.45∓5.22)% vs (86.58∓4.35)%] before treatment. The PRI in CHD group was significantly lowered after treatment to (67.66∓19.77)% (P<0.05). Clopidogrel resistance was found in 6 (30%) cases in CHD group by flow cytometric analysis, which showed a higher sensitivity than optical nephelometry (10%).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Flow cytometric analysis of VASP phosphorylation is a more reliable test to specifically evaluate clopidogrel resistance.</p>