Platelet reactivity tests for assessing antiplatelet drug response: what the clinician needs to know

Abstract

Antiplatelet therapy is a cornerstone in the treatment of cardiovascular disease to prevent ischemic events. Various tests have become clinically available to measure platelet function after antiplatelet treatment. A wide interpatient variability in the magnitude of platelet inhibition has been demonstrated in numerous studies, especially in response to clopidogrel. Several reasons including clinical, pharmacological and genetic factors have been identified. High on-clopidogrel platelet reactivity has been linked to adverse clinical outcome, in particular to stent thrombosis after percutaneous coronary interventions. New antiplatelet drugs including prasugrel and ticagrelor have been advocated to overcome the limitations of clopidogrel. Several studies addressed the concept of tailored antiplatelet treatment according to the results of platelet function testing. Within this review, we summarize the current status of personalized antiplatelet therapy for cardiovascular disease.