Post receptor determinants of acute platelet response to clopidogrel in patients with symptomatic myocardial ischemia

Abstract Background Clopidogrel resistance is more common in patients with loss-of-function CYP2C19 genotypes. Since adenylate cyclase (AC) and soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) pathways are variably impaired in patients with ischaemic heart disease, we tested the relevance of these determinants in patients undergoing acute loading with clopidogrel (600 mg) prior to non-emergent coronary stenting. Methods Inhibitory effects of prostaglandin E 1 (PGE 1 , an AC activator) and sodium nitroprusside (NP, a sGC activator) on platelet aggregation were determined at baseline and compared with platelet responses to clopidogrel (4 h after administration) assessed as ∆ADP, and Platelet Reactivity Index (∆PRI). Data were analysed according to CYP2C19 genotype. Results In patients without loss of function mutations (n = 18), ∆ADP but not ∆PRI, was directly correlated with baseline PGE 1 responsiveness (r s  = 0.62, p = 0.005)). NP responsiveness did not predict ∆ADP. However there was no relationship between clopidogrel responses and either PGE 1 or NP responsiveness in patients with loss of function mutations. Multivariate correlates of clopidogrel response were both the genotype status (β = −0.609, p  1 (β = 0.303, p = 0.03). Conclusions While genetically impaired bio-activation markedly limits acute (4 h) clopidogrel response, impaired AC signalling provides an additional cause for clopidogrel resistance.