Introduction: The prodrug, clopidogrel, plays an important role in the prevention of thrombotic events in patients undergoing coronary stenting. However, a substantial number of atherothrombotic events still occur, which can partially be explained by heightened residual platelet reactivity. Several studies report that the genetic variation in CYP2C19 (*2) is associated with an impaired response to clopidogrel.
Objectives: To evaluate the effect of genetic variants affecting clopidogrel's absorption (ABCB1 C1236T, G2677T/A, C3435T), metabolism (CYP2C9*2, *3, CYP2C19*3, CYP3A4*1B, and CYP3A5*3), and pharmacodynamics (P2Y1 A1622G) on top of the influence of CYP2C19*2 on platelet reactivity in patients undergoing elective coronary stenting on dual antiplatelet therapy.
Methods: Platelet function was assessed by light transmittance aggregometry and VerifyNow P2Y12 assay in 428 consecutive patients. Patients were either on chronic clopidogrel maintenance therapy (75 mg/day for > or =5 days before the intervention) or received a 300 mg clopidogrel loading dose (1-5 days before the intervention, followed by 75 mg/day). Linear and logistic regressions were used to assess the associations between genetic variants and platelet reactivity and poor responder status.
Results: In both the treatment groups, CYP2C19*2-carriage was associated with higher platelet reactivity (P<0.002) and poor responder status; 75 mg group: adjusted odds ratio (ORadj): 3.8, 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.0-7.2, 300 mg group: ORadj: 4.1, 95% CI: 1.6-10.4. In the 300 mg group, CYP2C9*3-carriage was associated with higher platelet reactivity (P<0.05) and poor responder status (ORadj: 11.1, 95% CI: 1.6-78.8, P=0.016).
Conclusion: Besides CYP2C19*2, the variant allele CYP2C9*3 plays an important role in the response to clopidogrel in patients on dual antiplatelet therapy undergoing coronary stenting.