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

Weight-based Aspirin Dosing

I (Geo) had the pleasure of meeting Santosh Kadel, MS MLS at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston on Thursday, August 9, 2018 while participating in the UTMB Department of Clinical Laboratory Science “Brown Bag” seminar series. Mr. Kadel is a student in UTMB School of Health Professions’ Doctorate in Clinical Laboratory Science […]

Antiplatelet Therapy

More on Reversing Plavix with Platelet Concentrate

Here are some follow-up comments to Dr. Larry Brace’s August 11, 2016 post about monitoring Plavix reversal with platelet concentrate. From Robert Gosselin, SSCLS, UC Davis: The thromboelastograph is not sensitive to platelet dysfunction. We could consider using their Platelet Mapping (PLTMAP) method, but there is no reference or therapeutic range provided, and the only […]

Antiplatelet Therapy

CoQ10 and Xarelto

Susequent to our 7/21/16 discussion of Pradaxa’s effect on antiphospholipid antibody testing, Dr. J. S. also asked, “I read where one should not take Co Q-10 if they are on Coumadin (wonder why?). Does the same warning apply to Pradaxa or Xarelto? Thank you for this follow-up question. CoQ10 has antiplatelet properties, as documented in Mortensen […]

Antiplatelet Therapy

Aspirin Alone for AFIB

A June 24 Heartwire article in Medscape reports on the National Cardiovascular Disease Registry (NCDR) Practice Innovation and Clinical Excellence (PINNACLE) study. The study shows that 40% of participants with a CHA2DS2-VASc score of 2 or higher were treated with aspirin alone. Click here to read the article.

Antiplatelet Therapy

Meds that Contain Aspirin

Angela Phillips from St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital asks, “We are looking for a listing of medications that contain aspirin/salicylates to compile a more detailed list in our coagulation laboratory (mainly for normal donor testing for control samples, etc.). Do you have this information or can you give me a resource that does? I found […]

Antiplatelet Therapy

Antiplatelet Therapy and Platelet Function Testing

In the interest of self-promotion and the dissemination of current information, I’ve posted three review articles prepared for the ASCLS Clinical Laboratory Science journal Focus series. They are… Fritsma GA. Antiplatelet drugs and platelet function testing. Clin Lab Sci 2015;28:122–4. Fritsma GA. Platelet structure and function. Clin Lab Sci 2015;28: 125–31. Fritsma GA. Managing antiplatelet […]

Antiplatelet Therapy

Favorable Cangrelor Review

The FDA study section reported a favorable review for the antiplatelet drug cangrelor developed by The Medicines Company, New Jersey. Read the committee report here. Cangrelor now awaits full FDA approval.

Antiplatelet Therapy

NSAIDS Raise Bleeding Risk Post-MI

Heartwire reviews a Februay 24 JAMA report indicating that AMI patients on DAPT who use NSAIDs double their risk of bleeding and secondary cardiovascular events. Read about it in Medscape.

Anticoagulant Therapy

Does Acetaminophen Interfere with the VerifyNow Asprin Test?

From Thomas Gage, MD, Lahey Medical Center. Greetings, I have a patient with a VerifyNow Aspirin test showing some inhibition. The patient had exposure to clopidogrel and acetaminophen, but not aspirin. So now I’m trying to figure out if acetaminophen can interfere with this test, and I’m getting conflicting opinions. Because the VerifyNow Aspirin test […]

Antiplatelet Therapy

Load more

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

Quick Question