Cardiff Metropolitan University
Browse

The effects of apixaban on clot characteristics in atrial fibrillation: A novel pharmacodynamic biomarker

Download (921.87 kB)
journal contribution
posted on 2022-04-05, 15:58 authored by Matthew J. Lawrence, Vanessa Evans, Janet Whitley, Suresh Pillai, Phylip R. Williams, James Coulson, Manju Krishnan, Peter Slade, Kieron Power, Keith Morris, Phillip A. Evans
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a major risk factor for stroke. We aim to characterize AF patients and the effects of apixaban therapy in terms of clot microstructure using gel point analysis, a novel biomarker. Seventy-eight patients were included in the study, 50 Stroke with AF (AF-S), and 28 AF without stroke (AF). Pre- and post-anticoagulation samples were collected: gel point (GP) analysis was performed to obtain (i) TGP (the time taken to reach the GP or the clot formation time) and (ii) df, the fractal dimension of the clot, a quantification of clot fibrin microstructure at the GP. At baseline, the AF-S group had a df = 1.70 (±0.05) and TGP = 306 (±73 s). The AF group had a df = 1.70 ± 0.05 and TGP = 346 ± 78 s, showing a significantly shortened TGP in the stroke group (p = .008). For both groups, apixaban significantly prolonged TGP, p = .005, but resulted in no change in df. Apixaban prolonged clotting time while having no significant impact on the blood’s ability to form stable clots (no change in df). This indicates that apixaban provides protection from the formation of thrombi by reducing clotting kinetics.

Funding

This work was supported by a grant under the ERISTA funding stream which is funded under the Alliance program of both Bristol-Myers Squibb and Pfizer.

History

Published in

Pharmacology Research & Perspectives

Publisher

Wiley

Version

  • VoR (Version of Record)

Citation

Lawrence, M.J., Evans, V., Whitley, J., Pillai, S., Williams, P.R., Coulson, J., Krishnan, M., Slade, P., Power, K., Morris, R.H. and Evans, P.A. (2022). 'The effects of apixaban on clot characteristics in atrial fibrillation: A novel pharmacodynamic biomarker', Pharmacology Research & Perspectives, 10(2), p.e00937.

Electronic ISSN

2052-1707

Cardiff Met Affiliation

  • Cardiff School of Sport and Health Sciences

Cardiff Met Authors

Keith Morris

Cardiff Met Research Centre/Group

  • Cardiovascular Metabolism and Inflammation

Copyright Holder

  • © The Authors

Language

  • en

Usage metrics

    Cardiovascular Health & Ageing - Journal Articles

    Exports

    RefWorks
    BibTeX
    Ref. manager
    Endnote
    DataCite
    NLM
    DC