Serum fibrinogen is a better predictor of periprocedural events than platelet reactivity.

Original title: Elevated Plasma Fibrinogen Rather Than Residual Platelet Reactivity After Clopidogrel Pre-Treatment Is Associated With an Increased Ischemic Risk During Elective Percutaneous Coronary Intervention. Reference: Lawrence Ang et al. J Am Coll Cardiol 2013;61:23–34.

Platelet function tests have identified differences in the response of each patient to clopidogrel and minor platelet inhibition has been associated with thrombotic and ischemic events post coronary angioplasty (TCA). 

Fibrinogen, an acute phase reactant, is involved in the final common pathway of the coagulation cascade. The objective of this study was to clarify the role of fibrinogen in short term ischemic events in patients receiving clopidogrel treatment which underwent a scheduled TCA. 

A total of 189 patients without angiographic evidence of any complications after TCA who were taking CRP, fibrinogen, cardiac biomarker and a platelet function test using VerifyNow P2Y12 platelet function. A serum fibrinogen level of ≥ 345 mg/dl in the absence of systemic inflammation (CRP ≤ 0.5 mg / dl) was independently associated with periprocedural infarction. No relationship was found between residual platelet reactivity on clopidogrel and the same event.

Conclusion 

In patients who underwent scheduled coronary angioplasty, serum fibrinogen level was associated independently with periprocedural myocardial unlike platelet reactivity.

Editorial Comment:

The lack of association in this study between platelet reactivity test and periprocedural infarction may be due to the small sample, since other larger studies, (mainly GRAVITAS), showed otherwise. Moreover, this study defined periprocedural infarction as the elevation of troponin or CK-MB > 3 times the normal limit and we have mentioned previously the poor relationship between this elevation and the clinical laboratory.

SOLACI.ORG

More articles by this author

Is IVUS Always Necessary for Left Main Coronary Artery PCI?

Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) of the unprotected left main coronary artery is a highly complex procedure because of the large amount of myocardium at...

Dual-Prep Registry: Atherectomy and IVL for Severe Coronary Calcification

Severe coronary calcification remains one of the most challenging scenarios in percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Although rotational or orbital atherectomy and intravascular lithotripsy (IVL)...

Prehospital heparin in STEMI: A safe strategy associated with improved early reperfusion

Early reperfusion remains the main prognostic determinant in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Although primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is the treatment...

Plaque Ruptures in Non-Culprit Arteries: Follow-Up With Intravascular Imaging

Plaque rupture remains one of the most important pathophysiological mechanisms in acute coronary syndromes. However, not all ruptures manifest clinically as ischemia, myocardial infarction,...

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Related Articles

SOLACI Sessionsspot_img
Jornadas Guatemala 2026

Recent Articles

UNICORN Technique to Prevent Coronary Obstruction During TAVI: Initial Results From a Multicenter Study

Coronary obstruction is an uncommon but potentially catastrophic complication of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI), particularly in valve-in-valve procedures, TAV-in-TAV interventions, or in patients...

Supera vs. Eluvia at 3 Years in Severely Calcified Femoropopliteal Lesions

Severe calcification remains one of the main predictors of restenosis and the need for repeat revascularization following endovascular treatment of femoropopliteal disease. In this...

Is IVUS Always Necessary for Left Main Coronary Artery PCI?

Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) of the unprotected left main coronary artery is a highly complex procedure because of the large amount of myocardium at...