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J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2004;128:197-202
© 2004 The American Association for Thoracic Surgery
Cardiopulmonary support and physiology |
a Service de chirurgie cardiaque, Hôpital Henri Mondor, Créteil, France, Unité, Association Claude Bernard, Paris, France
b Service d'hématologie biologique, Hôpital Lariboisière, Paris, France
Received for publication July 28, 2003; revisions received October 20, 2003; accepted for publication November 17, 2003.
* Address for reprints: Rémi Houël, Institut Jacques Cartier, Adult Cardiac Surgery, 6 Avenue du Noyer Lambert, Massy 91300, France
remihouel{at}hotmail.com
| Abstract |
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PATIENTS AND METHODS: Fifteen patients were studied prospectively up to 6 weeks after implantation of the same type of ventricular assist device. Platelet function was studied weekly before daily aspirin administration. Aspirin efficacy was tested ex vivo by measuring platelet aggregation triggered by arachidonic acid. Flow cytometry was used to quantify the spontaneous and induced (adenosine diphosphate stimulation) expression of glycoproteins
IIbß3, Ib
, and CD62P on platelet membranes. The plasma levels of von Willebrand factor (von Willebrand factor activity and von Willebrand factor antigen) and fibrinogen were also determined.
RESULTS: Six of the 15 patients (26%) maintained an arachidonic acid-induced platelet aggregation despite daily aspirin treatment (250 mg). CD62P values remained increased during a 5-week postoperative period. Spontaneous levels of glycoproteins
IIbß3 and Ib
on platelet membranes remained within a normal range with a preserved reactivity. The plasma levels of fibrinogen and von Willebrand factor remained increased during the entire study period.
CONCLUSION: In patients with an implanted external ventricular assist device, the platelet activation profile displays a persistent activation with a preserved reactivity associated with a persistent high inflammatory state and endothelial activation.
Platelet activation is best tested by a flow cytometry technique that measures the expression of integrins on the platelet membrane surface.6,7 Integrins
IIbß3 and Ib
seem to play a key role in platelet activation and thrombus formation. Integrin
IIbß3 is the last final common pathway of platelet aggregation through its binding to fibrinogen or von Willebrand factor.8 Integrin Ib
mediates platelet activation and adhesion through its binding to von Willebrand factor on the subendothelium, especially in high shear stress flowing conditions.9
The clinical development of VAD has brought some changes in hemodynamic biomaterials or conduits to reduce the incidence of device-related thromboembolic events. These improvements could also be explained by a more favorable host response to biomaterial implantation.10 These results may also illustrate different patterns of host response to different devices in which surface texture and hemodynamic conditions are different.11 The experience gained during the last decade in mechanical support allows studies on homogenous populations with a single type of support and prolonged support time.
This report studies (1) the platelet activation and aggregation profile of patients with a single type of external VAD and (2) the biologic efficacy of aspirin in these patients during prolonged support.
| Patients and methods |
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The indications for emergency device implantation were the following: persistent primary cardiogenic shock complicating acute myocardial infarction (7 patients), acute myocarditis (2 patients), and end-stage dilated cardiomyopathy (6 patients). Seven of the 15 patients were supported by an intra-aortic balloon pump before device implantation.
Surgical technique and anticoagulation protocol
Implantation was performed in a standard technique with CPB and moderate hypothermia. The left inflow cannula was implanted through the left ventricular apex in all instances. The right inflow cannula was implanted through the right atrium in all cases except 2 (into the right ventricle). The device was run in a fill-to-empty mode in all instances and as soon as possible (within hours postoperatively) on the left side. On the right side, the device was run in a fill-to-empty mode but could be on a fixed mode because of insufficient filling (postoperatively) or right ventricular recovery.
After surgery, anticoagulation was started within 8 to 12 hours using intravenous heparin to achieve an anti-Xa activity between 0.3 and 0.4 IU/L. Aspirin was started 24 hours after surgery at a daily dose of 250 mg. Aspirin doses were then increased gradually from 250 mg to 350 mg when ex vivo platelet function tests showed a persistent aggregation in the presence of arachidonic acid (AA) and finally up to 500 mg per day if ex vivo aggregation persisted after the previous increased dosage. In case of active bleeding with no obvious surgical source or neurologic bleeding complication, aspirin administration was stopped. Antivitamin K therapy was started after removal of all chest drains and extubation to maintain the international normalized ratio between 3 and 4. Fresh blood was collected for platelet function studies and cytometric analysis was performed weekly from the week of implantation and before daily aspirin administration. Blood was collected from a peripheral vein using a Vacutainer system (Becton Dickinson, Franklin Lakes, NJ) (as for control patients) and immediately stored in ice for transport to the laboratory. The dosage of von Willebrand factor, plasmatic fibrinogen levels, and platelet count were determined in the same conditions.
Resistance to aspirin
A resistance to aspirin treatment was defined by any persistent ex vivo platelet aggregation induced by AA despite a daily administration of aspirin.
The platelet count was determined on an ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid blood sample using an STKS counter (Beckman Coulter France, Paris, France).
Platelet aggregation
The citrated blood sample was centrifuged at 200g for 10 minutes at room temperature. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) was separated, and platelet aggregation was monitored by the turbidimetric method on a Chronolog Aggregometer (Beckman Coulter). PRP was stirred at 37°C for 1 minute under constant agitation (1000 rpm) and aggregation was induced by the addition of AA (0.2 mg/mL final concentration, Sigma, Lyon, France). Velocity and maximal intensity were recorded, and the results are expressed as the percentage of aggregation.
The plasma fibrinogen level was determined using a Clauss technique (Fibromat, BioMerieux, Paris, France).
The von Willebrand factor was determined using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique for the antigenicity (Asserachrom vWF; Diagnostica Stago, Asnières, France) and ristocetin-induced platelet aggregation for the activity (von Willebrand reagent; Dade Behring, Paris, France).
Flow cytometric analysis
To study platelet activation, we measured the spontaneous expression of CD62P (P-selectin or granule membrane protein 140) on the platelet membrane surface. Platelet activability was assessed by measuring the membrane expression of glycoproteins (GPs)
IIbß3 and Ib
in the absence and presence of adenosine diphosphate (ADP) (Beckman Coulter). Ex vivo, diluted PRP (40 µL) was incubated in the absence or presence of ADP (25 µmol/L), and platelet activability was quantified with a FacScan flow cytometer (Becton Dickinson, Mountain View, Calif). Saturating concentrations of different monoclonal antibodies directly coupled with fluorochromes were used: SZ2 directed against GP 1b
, P2 directed against GP
IIbß3 complex (Beckman Coulter), and monoclonal antibody antiP-selectin (anti-CD62P, Becton Dickinson). The results are expressed as a percentage of positive platelets for CD62P expression or as the number of GP sites using calibration beads (Byocytex, Marseille, France). Normal values from the laboratory were previously recorded from 600 control subjects for factor I levels, von Willebrand factor (antigen and activity), and platelet integrins.
Statistical analysis
The results are expressed as mean ± SD or median (extremes). Flow cytometric measurement of integrin expression was compared using the Mann-Whitney U test, and correlation with aspirin doses was calculated with ranked patient data using the Spearman test.
| Results |
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Platelet count and platelet volume
Figure 1 shows the platelet count and volume on weekly follow-up. The platelet count steadily increased during the first 2 postoperative weeks and remained stable after the fourth postoperative week (laboratory control values are 150-400 giga/mm3 and 8-12 fl for platelet count and platelet volume, respectively). A type II heparin-induced thrombocytopenia developed in 1 patient the fourth week after device implantation. Heparin was stopped and replaced by antivitamin K therapy. Aspirin was maintained.
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Aspirin resistance, as previously defined, was observed in a total of 6 patients. These patients are represented in Figure 2 by any value above the zero value of platelet aggregation velocity at each weekly blood test.
Five of 6 patients responded to an increased daily dose of aspirin. Three of 5 patients had a recurrence of this phenomenon when the daily dose of aspirin was increased.
In 3 patients, aspirin resistance was observed from the first week of treatment with aspirin after VAD implantation.
Inflammatory state: endothelial activation
Figure 3 shows the temporal trend of fibrinogen levels significantly above laboratory control values (2-4 g/L) during the entire postoperative course.
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IIbß3 and GP Ib
during the postoperative course. The normal range values were 24,000 to 38,000 and 10,500 to 19,000 sites per platelet for GP
IIbß3 and GP Ib
, respectively. After the first week, GP
IIbß3 expression remained within the normal range but closer to the lower limit. GP Ib
expression remained in the lower limits but closer to normal range values. Ex vivo-induced externalization of GP
IIbß3 and internalization of GP Ib
in the presence of adenosine remained within normal values during the entire postoperative course (Figures 7 and 8) (normal range values are 26% ± 11% for GP
IIbß3 externalization and 17% ± 9% for GP Ib
internalization).
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IIbß3 and GP Ib
when comparing patients who displayed some resistance to aspirin and other patients. No correlation was observed between the daily aspirin dose and the expression of integrin on platelet surface by flow cytometry. | Discussion |
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In healthy subjects, aspirin efficacy is observed with low doses (<100 mg/d), but with some individual variability.1,2 In patients with atherosclerotic disease, its efficacy is reduced and may necessitate higher daily doses to overcome an erythrocyte promotion of platelet reactivity.4,12,13 After CPB, thromboxane A2 synthesis persists at 70% to 54% of control values after 5 and 10 days, respectively, despite a daily oral intake of 100 mg of aspirin.3
We observed a persistent AA-induced platelet aggregation in the presence of AA in 26% of patients receiving at least 250 mg of aspirin daily. Moreover, this so-called aspirin resistance could occur a few weeks after surgery, whereas previous platelet studies showed an ex vivo aspirin efficacy in the same patient. The mechanism of this phenomenon may be explained by an increased turnover of platelets in the early postoperative weeks, as observed after CPB. This increased turnover of platelets may overcome the effect of aspirin on thromboxane A2 synthesis.3 An increased turnover may be a possibility in our patients with implanted VADs. In our study, we observed an increased platelet volume with a decreased platelet count during the early postoperative weeks after VAD implantation with CPB.
Another mechanism of resistance to aspirin could be an inflammatory-induced cyclooxygenase-2 isoform activity that is less sensitive to aspirin acetylation.5 Indeed, a prolonged inflammatory reaction is observed in patients implanted with VADs. Cytokine levels such as interleukin-6 and interleukin-8 or complement fractions (C3a, C5a) are increased several weeks after implantation.14,15 These molecules have also been reported to induce platelet activation.16 A persistent inflammatory state was also observed in our patients, as expressed by elevated fibrinogen levels and circulating von Willebrand factor values during the postoperative course.
Platelet activation studies measuring the membrane expression of P-selectin showed a persistent activation of platelets during this prolonged period of support.17 In vitro, the GP
IIbß3 complex has been reported to be selectively degraded after prolonged ventricular assist.18 In our patients, integrin
IIbß3 and Ib
expression on platelet surface remained within normal values and may reflect a persisting moderate platelet activation. No correlation was found between the daily dose of aspirin and membrane expression of these GPs, and no difference was observed between the integrin expression in patients who displayed resistance to aspirin and other patients. Membrane expression of integrin
IIbß3 has individual variations according to gender or genetic polymorphism associated with different aspirin sensitivity.19-21 This persistent platelet activated state could be related to permanent activation from a pathway other than the ADP pathway: Continuous thrombin generation has been reported in patients implanted with different VADs.15,22,23 Thrombin has a powerful effect on platelet activation through specific protease-activated receptor pathways (1 and 4) insensitive to aspirin.24-26
GP Ib
is coupled with von Willebrand factor when activated9,27 by high shear stress stimuli and is responsible for platelet adhesion and activation. This pathway is poorly sensitive to aspirin.26,28 The platelet activation observed in our patients could therefore be explained by high shear stress in the presence of an artificial ventricle. High shear stress could be developed by a high upstroke pattern on the apex cardiogram in the artificial ventricle with reduced inflow and outflow conduit diameters (14 mm diameter), resulting in high conduit velocities. Moreover, the substrates of these receptors (von Willebrand factor) remained within high-range values during the 6 postoperative weeks, indicating facilitated receptor-substrate interactions. These mechanisms of platelet activation make the efficacy of aspirin as an antiplatelet agent questionable despite the observation of decreased thromboxane A2 production.
These patients are also characterized by a preserved platelet reactivity considering only GP
IIbß3 and GP Ib
(Figures 6 and 7), despite an initial increased turnover associated with a continuous activation. The balance between enhanced platelet activation and reactivity may contribute to the individual tendencies for thrombosis or bleeding in patients with this type of VAD. Aspirin may favor the balance toward a reduced platelet aggregation but requires appropriate monitoring and adjusted doses to be biologically efficient.
| References |
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