It remains unclear when sufficient antiplatelet effect is achieved after administration of a loading dose of clopidogrel in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS). This study aimed to evaluate the clopidogrel response in patients with AIS identified by the platelet function test (PFT).
P2Y12 reaction unit (PRU) values measured using VerifyNow at baseline and at 6, 24, and 72 h after administration of a loading dose (300 mg) of clopidogrel were compared between patients with AIS and those of other cerebrovascular diseases (CVD). The prevalence of clopidogrel abnormal response and its associated factors were examined.
The PRU value was significantly reduced with time in the other CVD group (
Residual platelet reactivity at 24 h after clopidogrel loading was substantially higher in patients with AIS than in patients with other CVD. In addition, most patients with AIS were judged to be hypo-responders on PFT. This should be carefully interpreted in patients with AIS because of poor specificity for predicting clinical ischemic events.