Whole Blood Multiple Electrode Aggregometry Is a Reliable Point-of-Care Test of Aspirin-Induced Platelet Dysfunction

Abstract

MEA reliably detected the effects of aspirin. Notably, 500 mg aspirin caused complete inhibition of arachidonic acid-induced platelet aggregation for 2 days in all volunteers. Aggregation returned to baseline values with a wide interindividual variation in time course by day 5. No resting time for the blood sample was required for ASPItest or TRAPtest. These assays can be implemented as real POC tests. The reproducibility of the assays studied here is within the range of modern POC analyzers.

Assessment of platelet function by whole blood impedance aggregometry in coronary artery bypass grafting patients on acetylsalicylic acid treatment may prompt a switch to dual antiplatelet therapy

“…Similar results, although with different anticoagulant used for blood sampling for MEA were also described [15,16]. …”

The Prevalence and Clinical Relevance of ASA Nonresponse After Cardiac Surgery: A Prospective Bicentric Study

“…Multiple electrode aggregometry (MEA) is a frequently used analyzer of platelet function, which has been used for the detection of ASA nonresponse in patients with cardiovascular disease. 7,8 The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and predictors of ASA nonresponse detected by MEA in patients after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. The effects of ASA nonresponse on the occurrence of major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCEs) were determined for the first year after surgery.…”

Multiple electrode aggregometry as a method for platelet function assessment according to the European guidelines

“…The technological advances have contributed to the development of point-of-care (POC) tests for PLT function assessment [4,5].…”

“…3). MEA enables monitoring of the changes in PLT aggregation induced by acetylsalicylic acid and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (ASPItest), derivatives of thienopyridine -ticlopidine, clopidogrel, prasugrel, ticagrelor (ADPtest) or GPIIb/IIIa receptor blockers -abciximab, tirofiban or eptifibatide (TRAPtest) [5,9]. The limitations of MEA include the necessity to consider the effects of haematocrit and platelet count (especially thrombocytopenia) on the result obtained [7] and no possibility to evaluate the impact of vascular endothelium and shear forces during the blood flow through the vessels due to in vitro nature of the test.…”