Vaskulárna medicína 1/2011

Monitoring of antiplatelet therapy

Increased incidence of cardiovascular events in patients with the insufficient inhibition of platelet function has been shown in many studies. Therefore identification of patient with high residual platelet reactivity despite standard antiplatelet therapy may be useful to predict their risk of atherotrombotic events and could improve outcomes. Currently known laboratory methods have specific limitations, ideal method have not been found yet and efficacy and safety of alternative antiplatelet therapy have not be verified yet. For this reasons monitoring of antiplatelet therapy can not be generally recommended in clinical practice yet.

Keywords: antiplatelet therapy, resistance, monitoring, residual platelet reactivity