Test Identifies Aspirin Resistance in Heart Patients

A new diagnostic test identifies heart patients who are nonresponsive to aspirin, so doctors can prescribe alternate anti-platelet drugs.

Recent studies have reported that up to 15-20% of all heart patients currently taking aspirin as a preventive tool do not respond appropriately to aspirin's ability to reduce platelet function or they have become resistant to aspirin over time. The new assay enables doctors to detect and monitor a heart patient's response to aspirin when used for the prevention of heart attacks and strokes. The test could also be used to determine compliance in patients on an aspirin regimen.

The test, called Aspirincheck, requires only a urine sample and provides results in two days. It was developed by Esoterix Coagulation (Aurora, CO, USA), which provides technology-based laboratory services and information.

"Tradition dictates that we test to monitor the effectiveness of long-term medication such as lipid-lowering drugs, so it makes sense that we start testing to monitor aspirin's effectiveness as well,” said Alexander Duncan, M.D., of Emory University (Atlanta, GA, USA).



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