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Editorial
3 (
1
); 5-7
doi:
10.1055/s-0039-3401443

Algorithm-Based Platelet Function Tests: A Need or a Greed?

Department of Cardiac Anaesthesia, Cardiothoracic Centre, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India

Poonam Malhotra Kapoor, MD, DNB, MNAMS, FIACTA (Hony), FTEE (Hony), FISCU (Hony) Department of Cardiac Anaesthesia, Cardiothoracic Centre, All India Institute of Medical Sciences New Delhi India drpoonamaiims@gmail.com

Licence
This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)
Disclaimer:
This article was originally published by Thieme Medical and Scientific Publishers Private Ltd. and was migrated to Scientific Scholar after the change of Publisher.

Introduction

Today, as the incidence of cardiovascular diseases increases, the use of antiplatelet therapy is widely recognized. This presents clinicians with the challenge of balancing the risk of thrombotic and bleeding complications. Platelet dysfunction is one of the chief causes of postoperative bleedings and their etiology is not fully understood. Platelets receptors point-of-care investigations are of a remarkable value in assessing patient’s risk of bleeding. Reliable assessment of platelet function can improve treatment and saves lives.

Patients with triple-vessel coronary artery disease are usually advised to stop antiplatelet medication a few days prior to coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) to reduce the incidence of postoperative bleeding.1 The patients whose antiplatelet drugs are not stopped, before CABG, are at greater risk of postoperative hemorrhage.2 As of 2019, efforts are on to minimize blood transfusions.3 But, blood and blood products transfusion remains largely experiential and pragmatic.4 Hence, there is a need to have objective tests to demonstrate platelet dysfunction before platelet transfusion. Today, several devices perform platelet function tests which have been reported in clinical studies to evaluate platelet dysfunction and quantify the need for antiplatelet therapy. These devices range from highly sophisticated ones, such as light transmittance aggregometers and whole blood flow cytometers, to simple point-of-care technologies like the sonolcot, multiplate, thromboelastography (TEG), and thromboelastometry (ROTEM).

Instruments Measuring Physical Properties of the Clot

The balancing trial clot formation, retraction, and lysis reflects the ability of the hemostatic plug to perform its hemostatic function. Thus, by measuring various properties of the clot during hemostasis one can potentially detect several acquired and congenital platelet abnormalities. These instruments come with results in a shorter turnaround time.

The entire process of clot formation from its inception, retraction, and lysis can be well deciphered by the different signature curves seen graphically (based on the viscoelastic properties of blood) (Fig. 1a b).

(a,b) Typical sonoclot curve of normal hemostatis and normal thromboelastography (TEG).
Fig. 1
(a,b) Typical sonoclot curve of normal hemostatis and normal thromboelastography (TEG).

Abnormal clot retraction may reflect deficiencies in platelet number, platelet glycoproteins, release of activating agents, or decreased fibrinogen levels. Several instruments have been developed that can accurately measure various physical properties of the clot with time. Examples include TEG, ROTEM, multiplate, and sonoclot.

The perplexing issue is that there is a hornets’ nest regarding a few issues like: which device is optimal? What cutoff values to apply for discrimination of bleeding risk? How to proceed with antiplatelet strategies once the results of platelet testing are determined? No definitive guidelines exist in literature, on these.

The Need for PFT: Necessity versus Cost?

Platelet dysfunction may contribute to hemostatic alterations in cardiac surgery and can be influenced by preoperative antiplatelet therapy, comorbidities, or the effects of cardiopulmonary bypass itself.5 Therefore, perioperative platelet function analysis has immense value in prediction of excessive bleeding and transfusion requirements and guiding hemostatic interventions.

When an agonist like arachidonic acid (ARA)/adenosine diphosphate (ADP)/thrombin-activating peptide (TRAP) (adenosine derivative = ADP) is added to the blood sample, a signature curve is observed which measures platelet aggregation on the electrodes. A signature graph is then observed on the screen and the area under the curve (AUC), is a measure of this platelet aggregation. This AUC (Fig. 2a b) is measured in Ohms and is a diagnostic number, signifying platelet receptor function. The multiplate electrode aggregometry (MEA) expressed in Ohms is presented as an aggregation unit (AU). The measured area under the graph (AUC, 1 U= 10 AU × min) has a diagnostic value and is now a clinical parameter defining the receptor function.6 Various studies have in recent time discussed PFA perioperative as a good prognostic marker.

(a,b) Showing platelet aggregometry graphs (on ROTEM platelet analyzer) for normal platelet function, aspirin clopidogrel, GP II b IIIa thrombocyte, effects, and platelet hyperactivity curves.
Fig. 2
(a,b) Showing platelet aggregometry graphs (on ROTEM platelet analyzer) for normal platelet function, aspirin clopidogrel, GP II b IIIa thrombocyte, effects, and platelet hyperactivity curves.

Ranucci et al concluded that aggregometry testing can help in predicting postoperative bleeding in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting.

In this special “AIIMS issue of JCCC” we are honored and privileged to have our Director AIIMS, a renowned pulmonologist and intensive care physician, write an editorial on “climate change and global warming: inhaling a lung attack.” This is a visionary step for future predicaments of this epidemic social menace, especially in the Indian scenario.

Also seen in this issue in a brief communication by Gandhi et al is role of platelets in CABG patients. This is a class IIB evidence today in European hematology guidelines. Ameya et al, from our center, have emphasized on algorithm-based transfusion practice to prevent, perioperative bleeding in cyanotic babies.5 It makes for pensive reading about things to be seen in future when more patients on novel oral anticoagulants (NOACs) will be seen in the operating room and catheterization laboratory for invasive and noninvasive procedures. A platelet function analysis becomes mandatory then, as platelet count international normalized ratio (INR) and activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) is not enough. It is in such situations that point of care tests with rapid turnaround time, in an algorithm-based manner, become need of the hour and a necessity.7 Objective platelet function assessment after cardiac surgery can predict postoperative blood loss, guide transfusion requirements, and discriminate the need for surgical re-exploration. Despite the cost, the life it saves makes it an important tool in the ICU and operating room. As endotheliosists we all have an important role to prevent bleeding when the endothelium is disrupted when patient is put on CPB (cardiopulmonary bypass_/PCI (percutaneous coronary intervention)/ECMP or VAD (ventricular assist device) insertions.

Platelet aggregometry a point of care (POC) test indeed is a need which saves lives, only awareness of its availability and expertise in interpretations are required. It is not a luxury, despite its cost, as the rapidity with which it helps us in transfusing, the right blood component and save a life, is more important than the prolonged ICU ventilator stay. Its clinical utility and application remains to be discerned more.

An article by Sahu et al on Vitamin D toxicity is a must read.

Conflict of Interest

None.

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