No abstract

Advanced age and high-residual platelet reactivity in patients receiving dual antiplatelet therapy with clopidogrel or ticagrelor. J Thromb Haemost 2016; 14: 57-64. EssentialsDual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) in elderly patients requires balancing bleedings and thrombosis. Impact of age on high residual on-treatment platelet reactivity (HRPR) on DAPT was studied. A reduced effectiveness of adenosine diphosphate antagonists was observed over 70 years of age. The occurrence of HRPR was increased among elderly patients with both clopidogrel and ticagrelor. Summary. Background:The aim of the present study was to evaluate the impact of age on platelet function and the occurrence of high residual on-treatment platelet reactivity (HRPR) in patients treated with dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) using acetylsalicilic acid (ASA) and clopidogrel or ticagrelor.

The aim of the study was to assess simultaneously several potential predictors of outcome (co-morbidity, previous and in-hospital treatment, radiologic Brixia score) in patients with COVID-19. This retrospective cohort study included 258 consecutive patients with confirmed COVID-19 admitted to a medical ward at the Montichiari Hospital, Brescia, Italy from February 28th to April 30th, 2020. Patients had COVID-19 related pneumonia with respiratory failure, and were treated with hydroxychloroquine, lopinavir plus ritonavir. In some patients additional treatment with tocilizumab, dexamethasone and enoxaparin was adopted. Outcomes (death or recovery) were assessed at the end of the discharge period or at the end the follow-up (August 2020).  During hospitalization, 59 patients died, while 6 died after discharge. The following variables were demonstrated to be associated with a worse prognosis: Radiologic Brixia score higher than 8, presence at baseline of hypertension, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, heart disease, cancer, previous treatment with ACE-inhibitors or anti-platelet drugs. Anticoagulant treatment during hospital admission with enoxaparin at a dose higher than 4000 U per was associated to a better prognosis. In conclusion, our study demonstrates that some co-morbidities and cardiovascular risk factors may affect prognosis. The radiologic Brixia score may be a useful tool for stratifying the risk of death at baseline. Anticoagulant treatment with enoxaparin might be associated to a clinical benefit in terms of survival in patients with COVID-19.