Methods for measuring platelet reactivity of individuals treated with drug eluting stents

Abstract

A method is provided for measuring inhibition of platelet reactivity in an individual treated with a drug-eluting stent (DES). First, a blood sample is obtained from an individual treated with a DES and a P2Y12 antagonist. The blood sample is then mixed with particles comprising an attached GPIIb/IIIa receptor ligand, adenosine diphosphate (ADP) and prostaglandin E1 (PGE1). The mixture is incubated under conditions suitable for agglutinating particles, and platelet-mediated agglutination is assessed in the mixture. The absence or reduction of agglutination indicates that the individual treated with a DES has reduced platelet reactivity. Also provided is a kit for measuring inhibition of platelet aggregation by a P2Y12 receptor antagonist that includes a GPIIb/IIIa receptor ligand immobilized on a particle, adenosine diphosphate (ADP), prostaglandin E1 (PGE1), an anticoagulant, and a buffer to maintain the anticoagulated blood in a condition suitable for platelet aggregation.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.