Background: The impact of atrial fibrillation (AF) upon platelet reactivity has not been investigated.
Methods: Subjects were 33 individuals with AF who consented to elective electrical cardioversion (ECV) immediately before ECV determination of surface-bound fibrinogen after stimulation i.e. platelet reactivity was carried out. A flow cytometer was employed. ADP (1.7 and 8.5 μmol/L) and a thrombin receptor activating peptide (54 and 74 μmol/L) were used as agonists. The analyses were repeated after 26±8(SD) months.
Results: Compared to day 1 subjects with AF (n=18) had a trend towards lower platelet reactivity at study end. It reached significance when using 1.7 μmol/L ADP. In contrast, after 26±8(SD) months sinus rhythm (SR) (n=15) was associated with significant lower reactivity with all agonists.
Conclusion: After 26±8(SD) months patients returning with AF had higher platelet reactivity than those who remained with SR.
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