The effect of anti-platelet drugs on platelet function
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A study to determine if a platelet function test for patients on clopidogrel can predict the risk of bleeding intraoperatively.
IRAS ID
238969
Contact name
Sara Willoughby
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Wye Valley NHS Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 4 months, 1 days
Research summary
Platelets are an essential component in blood coagulation and are responsible for maintaining primary haemostasis which is necessary when patients undergo surgical procedures. Anti-platelet therapy with agents that irreversibly inhibit platelet function is expanding owing to the increasing number of patients with cardiovascular disease and the most problematic anti-platelet agent from a surgical point of view is a drug called clopidogrel.Patients taking anti-platelet medication and scheduled for major surgery present the clinicians with particular problems. There is the risk of a thrombotic complication if the patient stops taking the anti-platelet drug before surgery, or the risk of excessive bleeding if surgery takes place with the patient on the anti-platelet agent. The aim of the study is to look at the effect of clopidogrel on platelet function. Whilst it is reported that clopidogrel may effect platelet function; the extent is unknown. Depending upon the outcome of this study, platelet function tests may be performed by the laboratory on emergency surgical patients
REC name
South Central - Oxford C Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/SC/0274
Date of REC Opinion
17 May 2018
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion