Effect of Oral Anti-platelet Regimens on Platelet Aggregation using Chronolog Light Transmittance Aggregometry in Coronary Heart Disease Patients: An Observational Study

Coronary heart disease is one of the most common cardiac health problem in India. Anti-platelet therapy is the cornerstone in the management of coronary heart disease. The current study was undertaken to compare the effect of different oral anti-platelet regimens on percentage inhibition of platelet aggregation in coronary heart disease patients using chronolog light transmittance aggregometry. Blood samples of 215 consecutive patients diagnosed of coronary heart disease (Male: Female ratio- 142: 73) with mean age of 55.2 ±10.3 years, who underwent platelet aggregation test were analysed. Patients were either on aspirin, clopidogrel, prasugrel, cilostazol or a combination of these drugs in different dosages. Of the 215 coronary heart disease patients, 35, 115 and 65 patients were on single, dual and triple anti-platelet drug regimen respectively. The Percentage Inhibition of Platelet Aggregation (%IPA) in patients on dual anti-platelet regimen was highest i.e., 65.14 ± 23.23 as compared to 48.89 ± 22.16 in patients on monotherapy and 62.14 ± 21.64 in patients on triple anti-platelet regimen. Percentage of responders (> 40% inhibition of platelet aggregation) were 54.28%, 73.91% and 64.61% in single, dual and triple drug regimens respectively. Among responders on dual anti-platelet regimen, 64.7% were on aspirin + prasugrel and 35.3% were on aspirin + clopidogrel. The Percentage Inhibition of platelet aggregation in diabetics on dual anti-platelet regimen was 71.69 ± 17.54 as compared to 56.14 ± 23.29 in diabetics on triple anti-platelet regimen. Dual anti-platelet therapy containing prasugrel was found to be more effective than dual anti-platelet therapy containing clopidogrel on background aspirin therapy and triple anti-platelet therapy in terms of percentage inhibition of platelet aggregation in coronary heart disease patients especially those with concomitant diabetes, however this conclusion needs to be further confirmed by large-scale randomized clinical trials.