Detection of small inhibitory effects of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) by platelet impedance aggregometry in whole blood.

Our investigations have demonstrated on 10 volunteers receiving either 500 mg or 100 mg acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) that a low collagen concentration (1 microgram/ml) can best detect the aggregation defect caused by ASA. With the impedance aggregometry the mean inhibition reaches 82% and 52% with 500 mg and 100 mg ASA, respectively. Collagen at higher concentration (3 micrograms/ml) as well as ADP 10 and 25 mumol/l are less sensitive, less than 25% inhibition was recorded. These results suggest that a 1 microgram/ml concentration of collagen is adequate for the control of the ASA effect up to 6 days after intake of 100 mg. Furthermore, the von Willebrand factor (vWF) dependent platelet aggregation induced by 0.6 and 1.0 mg/ml ristocetin was clearly diminished after ASA. Therefore, a ristocetin screening test in whole blood for vWF disorder is possibly distorted when the test is performed within 6 days from ASA administration.