Platelet reactivity and comorbidities in acute coronary syndrome

Abstract: Background In the event of an acute coronary syndrome (ACS), the risk of death and complications such as stroke and re-infarction is high during the first month. Diabetes, impaired kidney function, elevated markers of systemic inflammation and high level of platelet reactivity have all been associated with worsened prognosis in ACS patients. Impaired kidney function is a condition with high cardiovascular morbidity and there is an established association between level of kidney function and outcome in the event of an ACS.Aims We sought to investigate the level of platelet reactivity during the first days of an ACS and specifically the level of platelet reactivity in patients with different conditions associated with worsened prognosis in the event of an ACS. We also wanted to investigate the prognostic impact of baseline levels of cystatin C as well as the importance of decreasing kidney function during the first days of an ACS.Methods We included 1028 unselected patients with ACS or suspected ACS during the years 2002 and 2003, of which 534 were diagnosed with an acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Blood samples for measuring platelet aggregation, cystatin C levels and other clinically important biomarkers were collected day 1, 2, 3 and 5 following admission.Platelet reactivity was measured using 2 different methods. Platelet aggregation was measured using Pa-200, a particle count method, based on scattering of laser light. PFA 100 is a method of measuring primary hemostasis in whole blood.Results Platelet aggregation and comorbidities.We found an increase in platelet aggregation when an ACS was complicated by an infection and there was an increased frequency of aspirin non-responsiveness in patients suffering from pneumonia during the first days of an ACS. Furthermore, we found an independent association between levels of C-reactive protein and platelet aggregation.During the first 3 days following an acute myocardial infarction, platelet aggregation increased despite treatment with anti-platelet agents.Platelet aggregation was found to be more pronounced in patients with diabetes.Patients with impaired kidney function, showed increased platelet aggregation compared to patients with normal renal function, however, this difference was explained by older age, higher prevalence of DM and levels of inflammatory biomarkers. We found no independent association between chronic kidney disease (CKD) and levels of platelet aggregation.Kidney function and outcomeSerum levels of cystatin C on admission had an independent association with outcome following an acute myocardial infarction. With a mean follow-up time of 2.9 years, the adjusted HR for death was 1.62 (95% CI 1.28-2.03; p<0.001) for each unit of increase in cystatin C on admission.The level of dynamic changes in cystatin C during admission for an acute myocardial infarction was independently associated with prognosis in patients with normal or mild impairment of renal function. The adjusted HR for death was 10.1 (95% CI 3.4-29.9; p<0.001).Conclusion In patients suffering from an AMI platelet aggregation increases during the first days, despite anti-platelet treatment. Diabetes, age and biomarkers of inflammation are independently associated with platelet aggregation.Admission levels of cystatin C as well as changes in cystatin C levels during hospitalisation are independently associated with outcome.