Donate Help Contact The AHA Sign In Home
American Heart Association
Circulation: Cardiovascular Genetics
Search: search_blue_button Advanced Search
Circulation: Cardiovascular Genetics. 2009;2:515-521
Published online before print July 24, 2009, doi: 10.1161/CIRCGENETICS.109.861799
CLINICAL PERSPECTIVE
Free Article
This Article
Free upon publication Free Article
Right arrow Abstract Freely available
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Data Supplement
Right arrow All Versions of this Article:
2/5/515    most recent
CIRCGENETICS.109.861799v1
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Rudez, G.
Right arrow Articles by Hackeng, C. M.
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Rudez, G.
Right arrow Articles by Hackeng, C. M.
Related Collections
Right arrow Arterial thrombosis
Right arrow Aggregation
Right arrow Platelet function inhibitors
Right arrow Genetics of cardiovascular disease

Original Articles

Common Variation in the Platelet Receptor P2RY12 Gene Is Associated With Residual On-Clopidogrel Platelet Reactivity in Patients Undergoing Elective Percutaneous Coronary Interventions

Goran Rudez, MSc; Heleen J. Bouman, BSc; Jochem W. van Werkum, MD, PhD; Frank W.G. Leebeek, MD, PhD; Adrian Kruit, PhD; Hendrik J.T. Ruven, PhD; Jurriën M. ten Berg, MD, PhD; Moniek P.M. de Maat, PhD and Christian M. Hackeng, PhD

From the Department of Hematology (G.R., F.W.G.L., M.P.M.M.), Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; and Departments of Cardiology (H.J.B., J.W.W., J.M.B.) and Clinical Chemistry (A.K., H.J.T.R., C.M.H.), St. Antonius Hospital, Nieuwegein, The Netherlands.

Correspondence to Moniek P.M. de Maat, PhD, Erasmus University Medical Center, Department of Hematology, L-431, P.O. Box 2040, 3000 CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands. E-mail m.demaat{at}erasmusmc.nl

Received February 28, 2009; accepted June 2, 2009.


    Abstract
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References
 
Background— The clinical efficacy of clopidogrel is hampered by a large interindividual variability in platelet inhibition. Polymorphisms in the P2RY12 receptor gene have been suggested to contribute to this variability, but previous studies included a relatively small number of patients and incompletely covered the common variation in the P2RY12 gene. The aim of this study was to comprehensively investigate the possible association between common variation in the entire P2RY12 locus and the magnitude of residual on-clopidogrel platelet reactivity measured by 2 commonly used platelet function assays in a large cohort of patients.

Methods and Results— A total of 1031 consecutive patients with coronary artery disease who were scheduled for elective percutaneous coronary interventions were enrolled. Platelet function was assessed by means of ADP-induced light-transmittance aggregometry and the VerifyNow P2Y12 assay. Six haplotype-tagging single nucleotide polymorphisms were carefully selected to comprehensively cover the total common variation in the P2RY12 gene and its flanking regulatory regions. Six common haplotypes were inferred from these haplotype-tagging single nucleotide polymorphisms (denoted A to F). Haplotype F was associated with significantly lower residual on-clopidogrel platelet reactivity compared with the reference haplotype A. The size of this effect per haplotype allele was approximately 5% aggregation in the ADP-induced light-transmittance aggregometry (P<0.05) and 11 P2Y12 reaction units in the VerifyNow P2Y12 assay (P<0.05).

Conclusions— Common variation in the P2RY12 gene is a significant determinant of the interindividual variability in residual on-clopidogrel platelet reactivity in patients with coronary artery disease.

Key Words: P2Y12 • haplotypes • platelets • clopidogrel • revascularization


    Introduction
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References
 
Dual antiplatelet therapy with clopidogrel and aspirin is currently the treatment of choice for the secondary prevention of atherothrombotic events in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and in those undergoing coronary stent implantation.1 In approximately 5% to 30% of clopidogrel-treated patients, the inhibition of platelet aggregation is insufficient.2,3 As a consequence, patients with a high residual on-clopidogrel platelet reactivity may be at a higher risk of atherothrombotic events.4,5

Clinical Perspective on p 515

Common variation in the P2RY12 gene has been suggested as one of the mechanisms underlying this large variability in clopidogrel response.5 The P2RY12 gene encodes the ADP receptor P2Y12, the pharmacological target of clopidogrel. Previous investigations on the relationship between P2RY12 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and high residual on-clopidogrel platelet reactivity were limited by the fact that only the haplotype-tagging SNP (ht-SNP) rs2046934 (i-T744C) was studied. Rs2046934 is in complete linkage disequilibrium (LD) with 3 other P2RY12 SNPs and the haplotypes "H1" and "H2," which these SNPs determine, cover only the 3' part of the P2RY12 gene.6–14 In addition, most of the cited studies on P2RY12 SNPs included a relatively small number of patients.

A comprehensive study of common variation in the P2RY12 gene should include ht-SNPs that cover all common haplotypes within the entire P2RY12 locus, ie, the P2RY12 gene and its regulatory regions, such as the promoter and the 3' untranslated region. Using this comprehensive approach, we previously demonstrated that common variation in the P2RY12 gene is associated with the risk of restenosis after percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI).15 Although ADP-induced light-transmittance aggregometry (LTA) is still considered the gold standard for the assessment of clopidogrel-induced platelet inhibition, methods have been recently introduced that are designed for a more standardized monitoring of the efficacy of clopidogrel, such as the VerifyNow P2Y12 assay.16 The aim of this study was to investigate a possible association between the common genetic variation of the entire P2RY12 locus and residual on-clopidogrel platelet reactivity using several platelet function assays in a large population of patients who were scheduled to undergo elective PCI.


    Methods
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References
 
Study Population
One thousand thirty-one consecutive patients with established CAD scheduled for elective PCI were included in this study. Because of different protocols of referring hospitals, patients had received a different but adequate clopidogrel pretreatment: (a) maintenance therapy of 75 mg daily for >5 days (n=659); (b) a loading dose of 300 mg of clopidogrel at least 24 hours before PCI (n=314); or (c) a loading dose of 600 mg of clopidogrel at least 6 hours before PCI (n=58). Exclusion criteria were the use of GPIIb/IIIa antagonists in the past 7 days before the intervention and a platelet count <150x109 platelets/L. Ninety percent of the patients were on aspirin (80 to 100 mg daily) and 10% were on coumadins. Eighty-one percent of the patients were using statins (Table 1). More than 95% of the study population was of Caucasian origin.


View this table:
[in this window]
[in a new window]

 
Table 1. Characteristics of the Study Population
 
The study protocol was approved by the institutional medical ethics committee. Written informed consent was obtained from each participant.

Definitions
Smoking was defined as any cigarette smoking in the last month. Hypertension was defined as a systolic blood pressure >140 mm Hg or diastolic blood pressure >90 mm Hg. Diabetes mellitus was defined according to the World Health Organization criteria. Family history of cardiovascular disease was defined as having a first-degree relative with a history of CAD for women younger than 65 years and for men younger than 55 years.

Blood Collection
Blood samples were drawn from the arterial sheath before heparinization into nonvacuum Sarstedt tubes containing 3.2% sodium citrate (Sarstedt, Nümbrecht, Germany). Hematocrit and platelet count were analyzed in K3-EDTA anticoagulated blood. Genomic DNA was extracted from K3-EDTA anticoagulated whole-blood following standard salting-out procedures and stored at 4°C for genetic analysis.

LTA
Citrated whole-blood samples were centrifuged at 120g for 10 minutes to obtain platelet-rich plasma and further centrifuged at 850g for 15 minutes to obtain platelet-poor plasma. Maximal and late aggregation (at 6 minutes) were measured in nonadjusted platelet-rich plasma after stimulation with different concentrations of the agonist ADP (final concentrations: 2, 5, 10, and 20 µmol/L) in an APACT 4004 four-channel aggregometer (LABiTec, Arensburg, Germany).17

VerifyNow P2Y12 Assay
The VerifyNow P2Y12 test cartridge system (Accumetrics, San Diego, Calif) was used as described previously.16,18 In brief, VerifyNow P2Y12 is a rapid cartridge-based platelet-agglutination assay designed to directly measure the inhibitory effects of clopidogrel therapy. The results are reported in P2Y12 reaction units (PRU), where a higher PRU reflects greater on-clopidogrel ADP-induced platelet reactivity, and in percentage of inhibition, where a higher % reflects greater change of ADP-induced platelet agglutination from clopidogrel-independent (baseline) platelet agglutination that is induced with thrombin receptor activating peptide and protease-activated receptor 4 activating peptide.

Selection of SNPs in the P2RY12 Gene
ht-SNPs were selected according to the approach described previously.15 Based on the latest LD-map of the P2RY12 locus (ie, P2RY12 gene with 2.5 kb flanking sequence) provided by the International HapMap Project for a population of Utah residents with Northern and Western European ancestry from the CEPH collection (phase II, October 2007; http://www.hapmap.org/) (Figure 1), blocks of haplotypes with frequency >5% were defined from these ht-SNPs using Haploview software (version 3.3, http://www.broad.mit.edu/mpg/haploview/index.php). Together, the defined haplotypes cover 88% of the total common DNA sequence variation in the P2RY12 locus. The 6 selected ht-SNPs that were genotyped are rs6798347 (c.–281–3614C>t), rs6787801 (c.–217+2739T>c), and rs9859552 (c.–217+11494C>a), which tag the promoter, exon 1 and a part of intron 1 region, and rs6801273 (c.–216–4445A>g), rs9848789 (c.–216–377G>a), and rs2046934 (c.742T>c), which tag the remaining part of intron 1, as well as the entire exon 2, intron 2, exon 3, 3' untranslated region, and flanking region (Figure 1).


Figure 1861799
View larger version (31K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
[Download PPT slide]
 
Figure 1. Schematic representation of the P2RY12 gene and the LD map of the 6 ht-SNPs genotyped. The P2RY12 gene consists of 3 exons (E1, E2, and E3, of which only E3 is coding) and 2 intervening sequences (IVS1 and IVS2), which span 47 kb of genomic DNA on chromosome 3. The 6 ht-SNPs that are depicted in the figure with their corresponding rs-numbers tag all common combinations of SNPs (haplotypes with allele frequencies >5%) within the P2RY12 gene and its 2.5 kb flanking regions (52 kb in total). The triangle-shaped figure depicts the LD map for these 6 ht-SNPs. In shades from white to red are indicated increasing pairwise LDs between the ht-SNPs with the corresponding r2 values given within the blocks.

 
Genotyping and Haplotype Analysis
The 6 selected ht-SNPs were genotyped using Custom TaqMan Genotyping Assays (Applied Biosystems, Foster City, Calif) under standard conditions.19 The nucleotide sequences of the primers and probes used for each assay are available on request. End-point fluorescence was measured on the ABI 7900HT instrument (Applied Biosystems) and clustered according to genotype using SDS 2.2.2 software (Applied Biosystems). A random selection of 10% of the samples was reanalyzed, and the results were confirmed in 99.7%. Laboratory analyses were performed by research technicians who were blinded for the demographic data of the patients. All SNPs were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium when genotyped in a healthy population.

Haplotypes were inferred using Haplo.Stats software (http://mayoresearch.mayo.edu/mayo/research/biostat/schaid.cfm) and coded from A to F, in the descending order of their effects on 20 µmol/L ADP-induced LTA, where A is defined as the reference haplotype.20

Statistical Methods
Demographic data are presented as means and standard deviations for continuous variables and as counts and percentages for categorical variables. Results of the haplotype analysis are presented as mean effects per haplotype-allele with the corresponding standard errors. Haplotype analysis was performed with Haplo.Stats.20 Briefly, this analysis calculates posterior probabilities for each possible haplotype of an individual and assigns an appropriate weight to the corresponding estimated effect on platelet function. Individuals with missing genotype data for more than 2 SNPs (n=26) were excluded from the analysis. Haplo.Stats assumes an additive effect of haplotype alleles, indicating that the net effect of a person’s haplotype is the sum of the effects of its 2 haplotype alleles.

The associations between the P2RY12 haplotype alleles and on-clopidogrel platelet reactivity were determined by weighted linear or logistic regression analysis, using haplo.glm function and results expressed as mean change from the reference haplotype allele ±SEM. The genetic analysis of the subgroup of patients who had received clopidogrel according to the dosing regimen C was not performed because of the small sample size (n=58).

Other statistical analyses were performed using SPSS for Windows, version 11.5 (SPSS Inc, Chicago, Ill). ANCOVA was performed to study the differences between the mean on-clopidogrel platelet reactivity of the total study population and the 3 loading dose regimens of clopidogrel, and to study the association between individual P2RY12 SNPs and platelet function in the total study population. In each analysis, homozygotes for the common allele of these SNPs were used as the reference.

Analyses were adjusted for age, sex, body mass index, diabetes, and smoking. For the total group, additional adjustment for loading dose of clopidogrel was performed. In some analyses, adjustment was also made for the use of aspirin, coumadins, and statins. A 2-sided value of P<0.05 was considered statistically significant.


    Results
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References
 
A large variability in on-clopidogrel platelet reactivity was found with 20 µmol/L ADP-induced LTA and VerifyNow P2Y12 assay (Figure 2A and 2B). For 20 µmol/L ADP-induced LTA, on-clopidogrel platelet aggregation was 58%±14% (total group), 57%±14% (dosing regimen A), 62%±14% (dosing regimen B), and 56%±15% (dosing regimen C). For the VerifyNow P2Y12 assay, PRU was 211±76 (total group), 206±74 (dosing regimen A), 228±78 (dosing regimen B), and 187±83 (dosing regimen C). Both for LTA and VerifyNow P2Y12 assay, mean on-clopidogrel platelet reactivity was significantly higher in the dosing regimen B than the dosing regimens A and C (P<0.001). Similar variability in on-clopidogrel platelet reactivity was seen for the different concentrations of ADP in the LTA (data not shown).


Figure 2861799
View larger version (15K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
[Download PPT slide]
 
Figure 2. Maximal 20 µmol/L ADP-induced LTA and VerifyNow P2Y12 assay in the total study population and according to the 3 clopidogrel dosing regimens. The total study population (n=1031) and the 3 different clopidogrel dosing regimens are presented. Depicted are the maximal 20 µmol/L ADP-induced LTA (A) and the VerifyNow P2Y12 assay (B). Differences between mean platelet reactivity of the 3 dosing regimens were tested using ANCOVA with adjustment for age, sex, body mass index, diabetes, and smoking.

 
P2RY12 Haplotypes
By combining the 6 P2RY12 ht-SNPs, 64 haplotype alleles were inferred of which 6 were common and had an allele frequency higher than 5%: (A) tTCgGT (10%), (B) tTCAGT (6%), (C) CTCAGc (15%), (D) CTaAaT (15%), (E) CcCgGT (21%), and (F) CcCAGT (22%; Table 2).


View this table:
[in this window]
[in a new window]

 
Table 2. P2RY12 Haplotypes
 
LTA
In the analysis of the total study population of patients, haplotype F showed a significantly lower 5 µmol/L ADP-induced maximal and late aggregation (both –4% per haplotype allele, P<0.05, Figure 3A and 3B) compared with the reference haplotype A. Similar results were observed for 20 µmol/L ADP-induced maximal and late aggregation (–4% and –6% per haplotype allele; P<0.001 and P<0.05; Figure 3C and 3D, respectively) and for ADP concentrations 2 and 10 µmol/L (supplemental Figure I). Similar differences between haplotype F and the reference haplotype A were seen in the subgroup analysis of patients from the clopidogrel dosing regimens A and B (Figure 3). In addition, haplotype E was associated with a significantly lower 20 µmol/L ADP-induced maximal and late aggregation in the analysis of the total study population (both –3% per haplotype allele, P<0.05, Figure 3C and 3D). Haplotype E also showed a trend toward lower maximal and late aggregation in the subgroup analysis of patients from the clopidogrel dosing regimens A and B (Figure 3C and 3D). Similar trends were seen for 2, 5, and 10 µmol/L ADP (Figure 3A and 3B, and supplemental Figure I) and after additional adjustment for the use of aspirin, coumadins, and statins (data not shown). Similar results were observed when nonwhites were excluded from the analyses (data not shown).


Figure 3861799
View larger version (23K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
[Download PPT slide]
 
Figure 3. The effect of P2RY12 haplotypes on platelet reactivity assessed by LTA. Results are shown for 5 µmol/L ADP-induced maximal aggregation (A) and late aggregation at 6 minutes (B), and 20 µmol/L ADP-induced maximal aggregation (C), and late aggregation at 6 minutes (D). Values are expressed as mean differences from the reference haplotype in percent of absolute aggregation per haplotype allele. Analyses were performed for the total study population (dosing regimens A+B+C), and for the subgroup of patients on dosing regimens A and B. Dosing regimen C was excluded from the analysis due to small sample size. *P<0.05, **P<0.001.

 
VerifyNow P2Y12 Assay
Consistent with the results for LTA for the total study population, haplotype F was associated with a lower PRU as compared to the reference haplotype A (–11 PRU per haplotype allele, P<0.05, Figure 4). These differences were less pronounced and statistically not significant when clopidogrel dosing regimens A and B were analyzed separately (Figure 4). A stronger and significant association was observed for haplotype E, which was consistently associated with 27 less PRU in the VerifyNow P2Y12 Assay for the total study population and for the clopidogrel dosing regimens A and B (P<0.05, Figure 4). Similar results were obtained after additional adjustment for the use of aspirin, coumadins, and statins, and when nonwhites were excluded from the analyses (data not shown). Also, similar results were obtained for the associations between haplotypes and percentage of inhibition from baseline platelet agglutination (data not shown).


Figure 4861799
View larger version (14K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
[Download PPT slide]
 
Figure 4. The effect of P2RY12 haplotypes on platelet reactivity assessed by VerifyNow P2Y12 assay. Results are expressed as mean differences from the reference haplotype in PRU per single haplotype allele. Analyses were performed for the total study population (dosing regimens A+B+C) and for the subgroup of patients on dosing regimens A and B. Dosing regimen C was excluded from the analysis due to small sample size. *P<0.05, **P<0.001.

 
P2RY12 SNPs
Comparison of the SNP alleles within the haplotypes and their effects on platelet function suggested that SNP rs6787801 was responsible for most of the observed haplotype effects. This observation was confirmed in the single SNP analysis where homozygotes of the rare allele of SNP rs6787801 (CC genotype, n=261) had a significantly lower maximal and late aggregation (ranging from –2% to –7% across various concentrations of ADP, P<0.05 for all), as well as a significantly lower number of PRU in the VerifyNow P2Y12 assay (–27 PRU, P<0.001, Table 3), when compared with homozygotes of the common allele of SNP rs6787801 (TT genotype, n=266). None of the other 5 ht-SNPs were associated with any of the platelet function assays (data not shown), except for homozygotes of the rare allele of SNP rs6798347 (TT genotype, n=46), who showed 24 PRU less in the VerifyNow P2Y12 assay as compared to homozygotes of the corresponding common allele (CC genotype, n=638, P<0.05).


View this table:
[in this window]
[in a new window]

 
Table 3. The Effect of SNP rs6787801 on Platelet Function in Total Study Population
 

    Discussion
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References
 
In this study, we demonstrate that common variation in the ADP-receptor P2RY12 gene is a significant determinant of the wide interindividual variability in on-clopidogrel platelet reactivity. Haplotype F (allele frequency 22%) was consistently associated with a higher on-clopidogrel platelet reactivity in the ADP-induced LTA and the VerifyNow P2Y12 assay, which may give an adequate protection against atherothrombotic events. Haplotype E (21%) was also associated with higher on-clopidogrel platelet reactivity, especially in the VerifyNow P2Y12 assay, but this association was less clear for the LTA. Interestingly, a single 300 mg loading dose of clopidogrel (regimen B) was less effective in inhibiting the platelet ADP response than the daily 75 mg dose (regimen A). However, although the overall mean on-clopidogrel platelet reactivity was significantly higher in clopidogrel dosing regimen B than dosing regimens A and C, these differences did neither influence the associations between haplotypes across the regimens nor did the adjustment for various covariates. In line with previous reports, the LTA and the VerifyNow P2Y12 assay showed similar results.16

The haplotype-based approach enabled a comprehensive investigation of the common variation in the P2RY12 gene. The results suggested that SNP rs6787801, or another SNP that is in high LD with this SNP, is responsible for the observed haplotype effects. SNP rs6787801 is located within the 59kb LD-block that contains the promoter region, but not the coding region of the P2RY12 gene. This suggests that altered transcriptional activity of the P2RY12 gene might be the underlying mechanism of the observed haplotype effects, rather than a structural change of the P2Y12 receptor. SNP rs6787801 and rs2046934 are located in different LD-blocks, which may explain why most of the previous studies on rs2046934 (the tagging-SNP of haplotype-alleles H1 and H2) have not found a similar association between rs2046934 and the response to clopidogrel.6–14 Also in this study, we did not find any statistical differences between haplotypes H1 and H2, represented by our individual SNP analysis with rs2046934. Judging from the relative effects of the haplotypes, there is a complex interaction between the SNPs within a haplotype. Therefore, we cannot exclude the possibility that besides rs6787801 other SNPs, including rs2046934, might contribute to the observed haplotype effects. In addition, the effect of haplotype alleles may not be additive, as we assumed in our model.

Results were presented per single haplotype allele, which implies, under the assumption of an additive effect of the haplotype alleles, that the effect of a haplotype in a patient is the sum of the effects of its 2 single haplotype alleles. A single haplotype allele F was associated with 7% lower platelet aggregation compared with the reference haplotype allele A, indicating that the estimated net effect in patients homozygous for haplotype allele F might be a 14% lower platelet aggregation compared with patients homozygous for haplotype allele A. Smoking, polymorphisms of the cytochrome P450 2C19 (CYP2C19) gene, diabetes mellitus, age, and proton pump inhibitor treatment are reported to have a similar effect-size on clopidogrel-induced platelet inhibition.21–24 It remains, however, to be established whether these differences are associated with clinical outcome and what the underlying biological processes are that explain the observed haplotype effects.

Our study confirmed a wide variability in residual on-clopidogrel platelet reactivity, as measured with ADP-induced LTA and the VerifyNow P2Y12 assay. To date, a uniform definition of so-called clopidogrel "resistance" or clopidogrel "nonresponsiveness" is lacking. This definition may vary depending on the type of platelet function assay used, or whether adverse clinical events occurred during clopidogrel therapy.5,25 In our study, the absolute residual on-clopidogrel platelet reactivity was measured and not the relative response to clopidogrel from baseline (ie, the pharmacodynamic response). For this reason, we cannot exclude the possibility that the observed differences between haplotypes may already be present at baseline and thus independent of clopidogrel treatment. In addition, we have not genotyped our patients for the CYP2C19 loss-of-function alleles (*2, *3, *4, and *5), nor the ABCB1 gene variants. CYP2C19 variants have recently been shown to affect the hepatic bioactivation of the clopidogrel prodrug and the concomitant platelet inhibition and risk of adverse ischemic cardiovascular events, whereas the ABCB1 variants have been shown to affect clopidogrel absorption.26–28 However, because CYP2C19 and ABCB1 genes are located on different chromosomes than the P2RY12 gene, we expect that the CYP2C19 and ABCB1 alleles are independent of the P2RY12 haplotypes; ie, CYP2C19 and ABCB1 alleles are randomly distributed over the different P2RY12 haplotype-subgroups of our patients. In addition, CYP2C19 and ABCB1 genes do not have common biological pathways with the P2RY12 gene, because the P2RY12 gene encodes the target-receptor of clopidogrel, whereas CYP2C19 and ABCB1 genes are involved in clopidogrel bioavailability. Although these notions do not entirely exclude the possibility of interaction between the 3 genes, the actual effect of P2RY12 gene variants (ie, adjusted for any confounders) will probably be larger than the one observed in the present study. Although it would have been interesting to include additional pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic measurements of clopidogrel in our study, the absolute magnitude of the residual platelet reactivity during clopidogrel treatment is considered to be one of the most important end-stage determinants of risk of recurrent atherothrombotic events. Additional studies need to be performed to test whether our results may be generalized to other ethnicities than whites.

In conclusion, common variation in the P2RY12 gene is a significant determinant of the wide interindividual variability in residual on-clopidogrel platelet reactivity in patients with CAD.


    Acknowledgments
 
Sources of Funding

Dr van Werkum received an unrestrictive research grant from Sanofi-Aventis. Dr Leebeek is the recipient of a clinical fellowship of the Dutch Organization for Health Research and Development, The Hague, The Netherlands.

Disclosures

None.


    References
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References
 
1. Mehta SR, Yusuf S, Peters RJ, Bertrand ME, Lewis BS, Natarajan MK, Malmberg K, Rupprecht H, Zhao F, Chrolavicius S, Copland I, Fox KA. Effects of pretreatment with clopidogrel and aspirin followed by long-term therapy in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention: the PCI-CURE study. Lancet. 2001; 358: 527–533.[CrossRef][Medline]

2. Gurbel PA, Bliden KP, Hiatt BL, O'Connor CM. Clopidogrel for coronary stenting: response variability, drug resistance, and the effect of pretreatment platelet reactivity. Circulation. 2003; 107: 2908–2913.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

3. Serebruany VL, Steinhubl SR, Berger PB, Malinin AI, Bhatt DL, Topol EJ. Variability in platelet responsiveness to clopidogrel among 544 individuals. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2005; 45: 246–251.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

4. Snoep JD, Hovens MM, Eikenboom JC, van der Bom JG, Jukema JW, Huisman MV. Clopidogrel nonresponsiveness in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention with stenting: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Am Heart J. 2007; 154: 221–231.[CrossRef][Medline]

5. Angiolillo DJ, Fernandez-Ortiz A, Bernardo E, Alfonso F, Macaya C, Bass TA, Costa MA. Variability in individual responsiveness to clopidogrel: clinical implications, management, and future perspectives. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2007; 49: 1505–1516.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

6. Grossmann R, Sokolova O, Schnurr A, Bonz A, Porsche C, Obergfell A, Lengenfelder B, Walter U, Eigenthaler M. Variable extent of clopidogrel responsiveness in patients after coronary stenting. Thromb Haemost. 2004; 92: 1201–1206.[Medline]

7. Angiolillo DJ, Fernandez-Ortiz A, Bernardo E, Ramirez C, Cavallari U, Trabetti E, Sabate M, Jimenez-Quevedo P, Hernandez R, Moreno R, Escaned J, Alfonso F, Banuelos C, Costa MA, Bass TA, Pignatti PF, Macaya C. Lack of association between the P2Y12 receptor gene polymorphism and platelet response to clopidogrel in patients with coronary artery disease. Thromb Res. 2005; 116: 491–497.[CrossRef][Medline]

8. von Beckerath N, von Beckerath O, Koch W, Eichinger M, Schomig A, Kastrati A. P2Y12 gene H2 haplotype is not associated with increased adenosine diphosphate-induced platelet aggregation after initiation of clopidogrel therapy with a high loading dose. Blood Coagul Fibrinolysis. 2005; 16: 199–204.[Medline]

9. Fontana P, Nolli S, Reber G, de Moerloose P. Biological effects of aspirin and clopidogrel in a randomized cross-over study in 96 healthy volunteers. J Thromb Haemost. 2006; 4: 813–819.[CrossRef][Medline]

10. Smith SM, Judge HM, Peters G, Armstrong M, Fontana P, Gaussem P, Daly ME, Storey RF. Common sequence variations in the P2Y12 and CYP3A5 genes do not explain the variability in the inhibitory effects of clopidogrel therapy. Platelets. 2006; 17: 250–258.[CrossRef][Medline]

11. Lev EI, Patel RT, Guthikonda S, Lopez D, Bray PF, Kleiman NS. Genetic polymorphisms of the platelet receptors P2Y(12), P2Y(1) and GP IIIa and response to aspirin and clopidogrel. Thromb Res. 2007; 119: 355–360.[CrossRef][Medline]

12. Cuisset T, Frere C, Quilici J, Morange PE, Saut N, Lambert M, Camoin L, Vague IJ, Bonnet JL, Alessi MC. Role of the T744C polymorphism of the P2Y12 gene on platelet response to a 600-mg loading dose of clopidogrel in 597 patients with non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome. Thromb Res. 2007; 120: 893–899.[CrossRef][Medline]

13. Staritz P, Kurz K, Stoll M, Giannitsis E, Katus HA, Ivandic BT. Platelet reactivity and clopidogrel resistance are associated with the H2 haplotype of the P2Y(12)-ADP receptor gene. Int J Cardiol. 2009; 133: 341–345.[CrossRef][Medline]

14. Bura A, Bachelot-Loza C, Ali FD, Aiach M, Gaussem P. Role of the P2Y12 gene polymorphism in platelet responsiveness to clopidogrel in healthy subjects. J Thromb Haemost. 2006; 4: 2096–2097.[CrossRef][Medline]

15. Rudez G, Pons D, Leebeek F, Monraats P, Schrevel M, Zwinderman A, de Winter R, Tio R, Doevendans P, Jukema W, de Maat M. Platelet receptor P2RY12 haplotypes predict restenosis after percutaneous coronary interventions. Hum Mutat. 2008; 29: 375–380.[CrossRef][Medline]

16. van Werkum JW, van der Stelt CA, Seesing TH, Hackeng CM, ten Berg JM. A head-to-head comparison between the VerifyNow P2Y12 assay and light transmittance aggregometry for monitoring the individual platelet response to clopidogrel in patients undergoing elective percutaneous coronary intervention. J Thromb Haemost. 2006; 4: 2516–2518.[CrossRef][Medline]

17. van Werkum JW, Kleibeuker M, Mieremet N, ten Berg JM, Hackeng CM. Evaluation of the platelet response to clopidogrel with light transmittance aggregometry: peak aggregation or late aggregation? J Thromb Haemost. 2007; 5: 884–886.[CrossRef][Medline]

18. Price MJ, Endemann S, Gollapudi RR, Valencia R, Stinis CT, Levisay JP, Ernst A, Sawhney NS, Schatz RA, Teirstein PS. Prognostic significance of post-clopidogrel platelet reactivity assessed by a point-of-care assay on thrombotic events after drug-eluting stent implantation. Eur Heart J. 2008; 29: 992–1000.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

19. Livak KJ. Allelic discrimination using fluorogenic probes and the 5' nuclease assay. Genet Anal. 1999; 14: 143–149.[Medline]

20. Schaid DJ, Rowland CM, Tines DE, Jacobson RM, Poland GA. Score tests for association between traits and haplotypes when linkage phase is ambiguous. Am J Hum Genet. 2002; 70: 425–434.[CrossRef][Medline]

21. Bliden KP, Dichiara J, Lawal L, Singla A, Antonino MJ, Baker BA, Bailey WL, Tantry US, Gurbel PA. The association of cigarette smoking with enhanced platelet inhibition by clopidogrel. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2008; 52: 531–533.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

22. Trenk D, Hochholzer W, Fromm MF, Chialda LE, Pahl A, Valina CM, Stratz C, Schmiebusch P, Bestehorn HP, Buttner HJ, Neumann FJ. Cytochrome P450 2C19 681G>A polymorphism and high on-clopidogrel platelet reactivity associated with adverse 1-year clinical outcome of elective percutaneous coronary intervention with drug-eluting or bare-metal stents. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2008; 51: 1925–1934.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

23. Angiolillo DJ, Bernardo E, Sabate M, Jimenez-Quevedo P, Costa MA, Palazuelos J, Hernandez-Antolin R, Moreno R, Escaned J, Alfonso F, Banuelos C, Guzman LA, Bass TA, Macaya C, Fernandez-Ortiz A. Impact of platelet reactivity on cardiovascular outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and coronary artery disease. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2007; 50: 1541–1547.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

24. Gilard M, Arnaud B, Cornily JC, Le Gal G, Lacut K, Le Calvez G, Mansourati J, Mottier D, Abgrall JF, Boschat J. Influence of omeprazole on the antiplatelet action of clopidogrel associated with aspirin: the randomized, double-blind OCLA (Omeprazole CLopidogrel Aspirin) study. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2008; 51: 256–260.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

25. Frelinger AL III, Michelson AD. Clopidogrel linking evaluation of platelet response variability to mechanism of action. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2005; 46: 646–647.[Free Full Text]

26. Collet JP, Hulot JS, Pena A, Villard E, Esteve JB, Silvain J, Payot L, Brugier D, Cayla G, Beygui F, Bensimon G, Funck-Brentano C, Montalescot G. Cytochrome P450 2C19 polymorphism in young patients treated with clopidogrel after myocardial infarction: a cohort study. Lancet. 2009; 373: 309–317.[CrossRef][Medline]

27. Mega JL, Close SL, Wiviott SD, Shen L, Hockett RD, Brandt JT, Walker JR, Antman EM, Macias W, Braunwald E, Sabatine MS. Cytochrome p-450 polymorphisms and response to clopidogrel. N Engl J Med. 2009; 360: 354–362.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

28. Simon T, Verstuyft C, Mary-Krause M, Quteineh L, Drouet E, Meneveau N, Steg PG, Ferrieres J, Danchin N, Becquemont L. Genetic determinants of response to clopidogrel and cardiovascular events. N Engl J Med. 2009; 360: 363–375.[Abstract/Free Full Text]


 

CLINICAL PERSPECTIVE

Currently, clopidogrel is the most widely used P2Y12 antagonist that, when used in combination with aspirin, significantly reduces the risk of recurrent atherothrombotic events in patients with acute coronary syndrome and those who undergo percutaneous coronary interventions. However, a wide interindividual variability in clopidogrel response has been reported, and patients with suboptimal platelet inhibition may be at higher risk of atherothrombotic events. Studies that tested the hypothesis that the P2RY12 gene variants are a determinant of the large between-subject variability in the efficacy of clopidogrel treatment have shown conflicting results. However, these studies were relatively small, and they focused on the 3' part of the P2RY12 gene. Therefore, we studied comprehensively the relations of common variation in the P2RY12 gene and platelet reactivity on clopidogrel treatment in 1031 patients with coronary artery disease scheduled for elective percutaneous coronary interventions. We performed platelet function measurements by means of ADP-induced light-transmittance aggregometry and a point-of-care VerifyNow P2Y12 assay. The main finding of our study is that 2 common haplotypes (each >20% frequency) were associated with a 5% lower on-treatment aggregation per haplotype allele (ie, an improved clopidogrel response). This study may contribute to an improved identification of patients at increased risk of atherothrombotic events due to suboptimal clopidogrel-induced platelet inhibition.


    Footnotes
 
Drs Rudez and Bouman contributed equally to this work.

The online-only Data Supplement is available at http://circgenetics.ahajournals.org/cgi/content/full/CIRCGENETICS.109.861799.





This Article
Free upon publication Free Article
Right arrow Abstract Freely available
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Data Supplement
Right arrow All Versions of this Article:
2/5/515    most recent
CIRCGENETICS.109.861799v1
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Rudez, G.
Right arrow Articles by Hackeng, C. M.
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Rudez, G.
Right arrow Articles by Hackeng, C. M.
Related Collections
Right arrow Arterial thrombosis
Right arrow Aggregation
Right arrow Platelet function inhibitors
Right arrow Genetics of cardiovascular disease