Korean J Nephrol.  2011 Mar;30(2):163-170.

Aspirin Resistance in Patients with End-Stage Renal Disease

• Kim HW
• Jang EH
• Kim SY
• Kim KS
• Joo SJ

Abstract

PURPOSE
Patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) frequently undergo thrombotic cardiovascular events, but the relationship between increased thrombotic events and aspirin resistance is poorly defined in these patients.
METHODS
Between December 2008 and November 2009, 59 ESRD patients who had taken aspirin alone or aspirin plus clopidogrel daily for > or =7 consecutive days were included. Aspirin resistance was measured using the VerifyNow Aspirin Assay and compared with that of patients with normal kidney function. Moreover, thrombotic cardiovascular events were examined in the ESRD patients.
RESULTS
Aspirin reaction unit was 475+/-58 U in the ESRD patients compared with 443+/-62 U in patients with normal kidney function. Nineteen (11%) of 170 patients were aspirin resistant based on the criterion of aspirin reaction unit (> or =550). The prevalence of aspirin resistance was significantly higher in the ESRD patients than in control patients (20% vs. 6%, p=0.006). ESRD and the use of angiotensin- converting enzyme inhibitors were associated with aspirin resistance in the multivariate logistic regression analysis. After a mean follow-up of 18.6+/-7.5 months, the incidence of thrombotic cardiovascular events in the ESRD patients who had aspirin resistance was significantly higher than in the ESRD patients without aspirin resistance (75% vs. 38%, p=0.023).
CONCLUSION
The incidence of aspirin resistance was higher in patients with ESRD than in patients with normal kidney function. In addition, ESRD and the use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors were significant predictors for aspirin resistance. Aspirin resistance was associated with increased thrombotic cardiovascular events in ESRD patients.

Keyword

Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors; Angiotensin II receptor blockers; Aspirin; End-stage renal disease

MeSH Terms

Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists
Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors
Aspirin
Enzyme Inhibitors
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Incidence
Kidney
Kidney Failure, Chronic
Logistic Models
Prevalence
Ticlopidine
Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists
Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors
Aspirin
Enzyme Inhibitors
Ticlopidine