Comparison of platelet reactivity and clopidogrel response in patients ≤ 75 Years Versus > 75 years undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention for non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome.

Specific data about the clopidogrel response in elderly patients are lacking. The present study was performed to compare the platelet reactivity and clopidogrel response between patients aged > 75 years and < 75 years undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention for non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome. A total of 689 patients were enrolled, including 162 patients aged > 75 years and 527 younger patients. All patients received a loading dose of 600 mg clopidogrel followed by 150 mg/day. Post-treatment platelet reactivity was assessed by adenosine diphosphate 10 µmol/L-induced platelet aggregation and the specific pharmacologic response to clopidogrel by the platelet reactivity index vasoactive stimulated phosphoprotein. High post-treatment platelet reactivity was defined as adenosine diphosphate 10 µmol/L-induced platelet aggregation >70%. Clinical events were recorded during 1 month of follow-up. The patients > 75 years old had a greater rate of both ischemic and bleeding complications (p = 0.04 and p = 0.03, respectively). The post-treatment platelet reactivity in response to both the loading and the maintenance clopidogrel dose was greater in patients > 75 years old than in the younger patients: 50 ± 17% versus 45 ± 17% (p = 0.002) and 57 ± 15% versus 53 ± 16% (p = 0.0005), respectively. The rate of high post-treatment platelet reactivity was significantly greater in patients aged > 75 years after 600 mg and 150 mg clopidogrel: 14% versus 9% (p = 0.04) and 23% versus 15% (p = 0.02), respectively. In contrast, the pharmacologic response to clopidogrel was not impaired in patients > 75 years after loading and maintenance doses: 43 ± 21% versus 46 ± 21% (p = 0.17) and 38 ± 18% versus 39 ± 18% (p = 0.55), respectively. In conclusion, patients aged > 75 years have an impaired prognosis after acute coronary syndrome. They display greater post-treatment platelet reactivity. However, this greater platelet reactivity does not seem to be related to an impaired specific response to clopidogrel.

Non-adherence to aspirin in patients undergoing coronary stenting: negative impact of comorbid conditions and implications for clinical management.

BACKGROUND: Premature discontinuation of and reduced adherence to antiplatelet therapy have been identified as major risk factors for stent thrombosis and poor prognosis after acute coronary syndrome. AIM: We aimed to identify correlates of non-adherence to aspirin among patients who had undergone coronary stenting. METHODS: We prospectively included all patients who had undergone coronary stenting in our institution. Response to aspirin was assessed during the hospital phase with arachidonic acid-induced platelet aggregation (AA-Ag) and only good responders to aspirin (AA-Ag<30%) were included in the study for longitudinal assessment (n=308). Response to aspirin was reassessed 1 month after hospital discharge and non-responders received a directly observed intake of aspirin to exclude any biological non-response due to bioavailability problems. After excluding patients with such problems, response to aspirin based on platelet function testing was used to estimate non-adherence to aspirin after coronary stenting. A logistic regression model was used to identify predictors of non-adherence. RESULTS: Non-adherence to aspirin concerned 14% of the study sample (n=43). After adjustment for age, those who reported the highest risk of non-adherence to aspirin were migrants (odds ratio [95% confidence interval], 8.3 [3.5-19.8], followed by patients receiving treatment for diabetes (4.5 [1.9-10.9]). Smokers had a threefold risk of non-adherence (3.1 [1.4-6.9]). CONCLUSIONS: Non-adherence to aspirin is relatively frequent in populations at high risk of cardiovascular events. Appropriate case management and special interventions targeting these groups need to be implemented to avoid fatal events and assure long-term adherence to treatment.

Microvascular diabetes complications in Wolfram syndrome (diabetes insipidus, diabetes mellitus, optic atrophy, and deafness [DIDMOAD]): an age- and duration-matched comparison with common type 1 diabetes.

OBJECTIVE: Some previous studies suggested that patients suffering from Wolfram syndrome or DIDMOAD (diabetes insipidus, diabetes mellitus, optic atrophy, and deafness) might be relatively preserved from diabetic retinopathy and nephropathy. However, these data were not conclusive because either observations were only anecdotic or did not match with control type 1 diabetic populations. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: A group of 26 French diabetic patients with DIDMOAD was compared with a population of 52 patients with common type 1 diabetes matched for age at diabetes diagnosis (8.62 +/- 1.84 vs. 8.27 +/- 1.30 years; P = NS) and diabetes duration (12.88 +/- 1.58 vs. 12.87 +/- 1.13 years; P = NS) to study the quality of glycemic control and the incidence of microvascular complications. RESULTS: Glycemic control was significantly better in the DIDMOAD group than in the type 1 diabetic group (A1C: 7.72 +/- 0.21 vs. 8.99 +/- 0.25%, respectively; P = 0.002), with significant lower daily insulin requirements (0.71 +/- 0.07 vs. 0.88 +/- 0.04 UI x kg(-1) x day(-1), respectively; P = 0.0325). The prevalence of microvascular complications in the DIDMOAD group was half that observed in the type 1 diabetic group, but the difference was not significant. CONCLUSIONS: Diabetes in DIDMOAD patients is more easily controlled despite the presence of other handicaps. This better glycemic control could explain the trend to decreased microvascular diabetes complications observed in previous studies.

[L-thyroxine pseudomalabsorption: a factitious disease]. / Pseudomalabsorption de L-thyroxine: une forme de pathomimie.

INTRODUCTION: Thyroxine supplementation of patients with hypothyroidism is usually simple. A few patients, however, continue to present elevated TSH levels despite large doses of L-thyroxine. CASE: We report the case of a 71-year-old women who had had a thyroidectomy 10 years earlier and had since been hospitalized repeatedly for profound hypothyroidism. Despite her consistent claims of good adherence to her treatment regimen, we considered the diagnosis of L-thyroxine pseudomalabsorption and confirmed it by thyroid hormone absorption tests. DISCUSSION: L-thyroxine pseudomalabsorption due to concealed poor treatment adherence should be considered after ruling out drug or dietary interference and true organic malabsorption. Diagnosis of this factitious disease can be confirmed by L-thyroxine absorption tests.