Adequate Platelet Function Inhibition Confirmed by Two Inductive Agents Predicts Lower Recurrence of Ischemic Stroke/Transient Ischemic Attack

BACKGROUND The correlation between platelet function and recurrent ischemic stroke or TIA remains uncertain. OBJECTIVE To investigate two inductive agents to detect platelet functions and assess associations with recurrent ischemic stroke/TIA. METHOD The study included 738 ischemic stroke/TIA patients. On days 0, 3, and 9 after antiplatelet therapy, platelet function tests were determined by maximum aggregation rate (MAR) using a PL-11 platelet function analyzer and phase matching reagents. Two induction agents were used: arachidonic acid (AA) and adenosine diphosphate (ADP). At 3-month follow-up, recurrence of stroke/TIA was recorded. RESULT Cut-off values of adequate platelet function inhibition were MARADP < 35% and MARAA < 35%. Data showed that antiplatelet therapy could reduce the maximum aggregation rate. More importantly, adequate platelet function inhibition of either MARADP or MARAA was not associated with the recurrence of stroke/TIA, but adequate platelet function inhibition of not only MARADP but also MARAA predicts lower recurrence (0/121 (0.00%) versus 18/459 (3.92%), P = 0.0188). CONCLUSION The platelet function tested by PL-11 demonstrated that adequate inhibition of both MARADP and MARAA could predict lower risk of ischemic stroke/TIA recurrence.