The pre-procedural platelet state predicts clinical recurrence after coronary angioplasty.

Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty is an established therapy for coronary artery disease, but restenosis still occurs at a rate of 25%-40%. The aim of this study was to investigate the acute effect of percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty on platelet function and the relationship between platelet function and clinical recurrence. Spontaneous platelet aggregation was assessed before and after successful coronary angioplasty in 155 patients (120 men, 35 women). Patients were followed for a mean time of 20 months; follow-up angiography was performed only in patients with clinical recurrence. In 122 of 155 patients (79%) a significant increase in spontaneous platelet aggregation was observed immediately after coronary angioplasty. Baseline spontaneous platelet aggregation in platelet-rich plasma was significantly lower in patients with clinical recurrence than in those without (P<0.05). Kaplan-Meier event-free survival estimate showed a significant difference in clinical recurrence between patients with spontaneous platelet aggregation in platelet-rich plasma below and above the first quintile (P<0.05) with a relative risk of 2.5. In conclusion. these results indicate that percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty enhances spontaneous platelet aggregation and that the platelet state before coronary angioplasty affects the risk of clinical recurrence after the procedure.