Monitoring the hemostasis with rotation thromboelastometry in patients with acute STEMI on dual antiplatelet therapy: First experiences

Rotation thromboelastometry (ROTEM) is a viscoelastometric point-of-care-test for the complex evaluation of changes in hemostasis, performed in whole blood. However, no prospective study evaluating the efficacy of the antiplatelet therapy using ROTEM was performed. Fifty-six patients (34 men, 22 women, mean age 67.75 years, and age range 34–88 years) with acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), treated with dual antiplatelet therapy, undergoing urgent coronary angiography and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) of culprit coronary lesion were included. Three blood samples were taken (sample 1 taken before the urgent coronary angiography, sample 2 in 24 hours after the admission, and sample 3 in 30 days after acute STEMI). Twenty-one healthy blood donors (17 men, 4 women, mean age 50.38 years, and age range 40–74 years) were recruited as the control group. Blood samples were tested with ROTEM Gamma (Pentapharm GmbH, Munich, Germany) and light transmission aggregometry (LTA). Clotting time (CT) was significantly prolonged and maximum clot firmness (MCF) was significantly higher in patients compared to controls. Mean platelet aggregation after the induction with arachidonic acid (33.2% vs 74.6% in sample 1 and 21.1% vs 74.6% in sample 2), as well as adenosine diphosphate (51.4% vs 72.7% in sample 1 and 37.1% vs 72.7% in sample 2), were significantly lower in patients with acute STEMI. Significantly prolonged CT and increased MCF was found in patients with acute STEMI. This study confirmed the ability of ROTEM to identify changes in hemostasis in ACS patients on antithrombotic therapy.