Platelet reactivity and coronary microvascular impairment after percutaneous revascularization in stable patients receiving clopidogrel or prasugrel

Increased platelet reactivity (PR) associated with variable degree of coronary microvascular impairment has been reported in patients on clopidogrel after elective percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Prasugrel provides more potent platelet inhibition than clopidogrel, though it is unknown whether it might also prevent PCI-related platelet activation. In stable patients undergoing elective PCI, we compared: (1) the effects of prasugrel vs. clopidogrel on peri-procedural variations of PR and (2) the correlation of platelet inhibition potency with PCI-induced coronary microvascular impairment.