Antiplatelet Therapy

Ticagrelor Antibacterial Property

Click below to see a May 9, 2019 article that links ticagrelor (Brilinta) antiplatelet therapy with its putative anti-gram-positive bacterial property, including Methacillin-resistant Staph aureus and Vancomycin-resistant enterococcus. It appears that platelets are able to sequester the drug in sites of infection. Lancellotti P, Musumeci L, Jacques N, et al. Antibacterial activity of ticagrelor in […]

Antiplatelet Therapy

New Antiplatelet Therapy

I’ve attached a pre-pub article describing a phase I trial of ACT017, a novel antiplatelet antibody fragment specific for glycoprotein VI, a platelet membrane collagen receptor. The manufacturers propose that ACT017 infusion can suppress platelet activity as part of coronary artery disease therapy with minimal bleeding risk. Clip or tap the citation for full information: […]

Antiplatelet Therapy

Aspirin Efficacy in Primary Prevention

Poor old aspirin has again lost ground. Here’s an editorial from the January, 2019 issue of European Heart Journal describing a meta-analysis of aspirin’s lack of efficacy in subjects who have no cardiovascular disease risk factors: Valgimigh M. The Remarkable Story of a Wonder Drug, Which Now Comes to an End in the Primary Prevention […]

Antiplatelet Therapy

Eptifibatide Effect on Platelet Aggregometry

Do any Fritsma Factor participants have experience with the platelet aggregation effects of eptifibatide (integrelin), or of any of the GP IIb/IIIa inhibitors. Do you have experience with the Werfen Accumetrics VerifyNow IIb/IIIa assay? If so, please comment below or email [email protected].

Antiplatelet Therapy

Quick Question: Measuring ASA Response Results

Our November, 2018 Quick Question asked, “How do you measure aspirin response?” The question attracted a gratifying 71 answers to a relatively esoteric question. Here are the responses: a. Siemens PFA-100: 19 (27%) b. Werfen Accriva VerifyNow Aspirin 19 (27%) c. Light transmittance aggregometry 6 (8%) d. Whole blood impedance aggregometry 8 (11%) e. AspirinWorks […]

Antiplatelet Therapy

REDUCE-IT Trial Results

Today, Saturday, November 10, 2018, Dr. Deepak Bhatt, principal investigator of the Evaluation of the Effect of AMR101 on Cardiovascular Health and Mortality in Hypertriglyceridemic Patients With Cardiovascular Disease or at High Risk for Cardiovascular Disease: REDUCE-IT (Reduction of Cardiovascular Events With EPA – Intervention Trial) reported on encouraging results of the use of high-dose […]

Antiplatelet Therapy

VITAL Trial Results

Click or tap here to learn the results of the VITAL trial conducted by Joann Manson, MD DPH, Beth Israel. The trial looked at the primary endpoints of major cardiovascular disease events and invasive cancer in subjects taking marine omega-3 fatty acids (Omacor® fish oil, (eicosapentaenoic acid [EPA] and docosahexaenoic acid [DHA]], 1 g daily, […]

Antiplatelet Therapy

Aspirin for TKR?

Thanks to Dave McGlasson for sending Aspirin, Anticoagulants Similarly Prevent VTE After TKA from MPR Publications. I’ve lately been hearing anecdotes of patients being prescribed aspirin after total hip or knee replacement, and I know of one person, a hemostasis expert, who was prescribed no antithrombotic therapy subsequent to TKRs on both knees with no […]

Antiplatelet Therapy

More on Weight-based Aspirin Dosing

Thanks to my friend and colleague Gordon Ens, Inflammatory Markers Laboratory, for the heads-up on this August 31, 2018 Cleveland HeartLab article, Aspirin for the Heart, One Dose Doesn’t Fit All (click or tap) This is in follow-up to our August 13 post, Weight-based Aspirin Dosing, featuring Santosh Kadel at the University of Texas Medical […]

Antiplatelet Therapy

Brillinta and Shortness of Breath

I (Geo) just had a chat with a friend who recently had a stent installed and is now on a regular regimen of aspirin, 81 mg/day, and Brillinta, 90 mg/twice a day. He reports no minor bleeds, but he does have shortness of breath episodes. Shortness of breath is recorded as a possible side effect […]

Antiplatelet Therapy

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George Fritsma is a medical laboratory scientist, educator, and author. George holds faculty appointments with Rutgers University and Michigan State University, and is a member of the International Society on Thrombosis and Hemostasis, American Association of Clinical Chemists, and American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science.

Cheat Sheets from George

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