Antiplatelet Therapy

Triple Antithrombotic Therapy

Prof. Bernadette Rodak of Indiana University forwarded a question about parallel anticoagulant and antiplatelet therapy from the ASCLS Consumer Web Forum. In the interest of confidentiality, I paraphrase the question: “What should the international normalized ratio (INR) be when on simultaneous antiplatelet therapy (aspirin and clopidogrel) for percutaneous intervention (PCI) stent placement and anticoagulation therapy (Coumadin) […]

Anticoagulant Therapy

Clopidogrel Efficacy

This question arrived last week in the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science Consumer Forum: “I would like to know the differences between platelet aggregation testing and pharmacogenetic testing of CYP2C19 for clopidogrel. In 2010, the FDA issued a black box warning for clopidogrel in persons who are CYP2C19 poor metabolizers. I am very interested in what […]

Antiplatelet Therapy

VerifyNow Platelet Function Screen?

Attached to the December 28 post, “Platelet Function Testing and the Bleeding Time” with the AC Ivy story was the question, “Is the Accumetrics VerifyNow aggregometer useful for screening patients for inherited platelet function disorders?” Yes, I consider the VerifyNow assay effective in screening for platelet function defects, like storage pool disorder or platelet secretion disorder (aspirin-like syndrome), however […]

Antiplatelet Therapy

TRILOGY ACS: Prasugrel Efficacy

Here is a link to a recent TRILOGY ACS report indicating that prasugrel (Effient) is equivalent to clopidogrel (Plavix) in reducing major cardiovascular events.

Antiplatelet Therapy

VerifyNow P2Y12 Assay: Change to PRU

I received this truncated communication on July 16 from Michael Suter with no follow-up, but I post it regardless, as Accumetrics’ decision to change their P2Y12 cartridge report seems to be a concern for many: “We monitor Plavix therapy using the VerifyNow P2Y12 assay kit. Accumetrics is in the process of discontinuing the reporting of percent inhibition, leaving the PRU […]

Antiplatelet Therapy

POC Assay for Plavix

Participants: what method, if any, do you use for monitoring Plavix? The ones I know about are light transmittance aggregometry using ADP as the agonist, impedance aggregometry with ADP, INNOVANCE PFA-100 P2Y ( RUO), Accumetrics Integra VerifyNow P2Y12, the Multiplate analyzer (RUO), or the thromboelastograph (TEG). If you are using one of the point of […]

Antiplatelet Therapy

Plavix Patent Expires 5.17.12

The Heart has provided a comprehensive history of clopidogrel, whose patent expired yesterday, a milestone in cardiac care that significantly improved myocardial infarct patient survival. We will soon be seeing generic forms of clopidogrel and new antiplatelet drugs. Geo.

Antiplatelet Therapy

More on Clopidogrel Efficacy

This is a February 18, 2014 follow-up from the individual whom I responded to in a January 30 post entitled Clopidogrel Efficacy. I had collaborated with Prof. Bernadette Rodak of Indiana University on the original email to the questioner. Here is the comment (with identification removed): “I would like to thank you and Prof. Rodak for your response […]

Antiplatelet Therapy

Advance: Antiplatelet Drugs

Frequent contributor Dave McGlasson and I assisted with this January 11 Advance for Administrators of the Laboratory Karen Appold article entitled New Antiplatelet Drugs Bring Benefits. You may find the discussion helpful. The article requires one minor edit when reading, the glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors are described as “injectable,” they are actually administered intravenously. I hope you enjoy the article. Geo.

Antiplatelet Therapy

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George Fritsma is a medical laboratory scientist, educator, and author. George is a member of the International Society on Thrombosis and Hemostasis, the International Society for Laboratory Hematology, and the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science.

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