Platelet function evaluated by multiple electrode aggregometry (MEA) (Multiplate®
analyzer, Roche, Basel, Switzerland) is increasingly explored in various settings
[
1
,
2
,
3
]. Among others, personalization of acetylsalicylic acid treatment [
[1]
], platelet function in response to a surgical stimuli [
[2]
] and testing for heparin-induced thrombocytopenia [
[3]
] are relevant clinical applications for MEA. A previously published study by our
group provided the reference intervals of platelet aggregation in hirudin whole blood
[
[4]
]. The study only focused on the parameter area under the aggregation curve (AUC),
measured in arbitrary aggregations units (AU) *minutes (min). However, other parameters
of the Multiplate® analyzer are readily available, in particular the maximum aggregation
amplitude (measured in AU) as well as the slope of the aggregation curve designated
aggregation velocity (AU/min). The AUC is suggested as the main parameter by the manufacturer
[
[5]
,
[6]
]. It is empirically sound to suggest the AUC as the main parameter owing to its composite
nature including aspects of aggregation velocity as well as aggregation amplitude.
Accordingly, the AUC is often highlighted as the optimal parameter [
[5]
], although no data have been presented demonstrating the superiority of the AUC.
Furthermore, the manufacturer also introduced the AUC in units (U) where 1 U corresponds
to 10 AU ∗ min [
[6]
]. Subsequently, there has been some confusion in the literature regarding the use
of U, which is sometimes referred to as AU [
[7]
], even though the term AU should be restricted to the parameter maximum amplitude
and not the AUC. In any case, when data exploration is restricted to the AUC, potential
information available in the basic parameters maximum amplitude and velocity may be
neglected.Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: February 17, 2018
Accepted:
February 16,
2018
Received in revised form:
February 5,
2018
Received:
December 9,
2017
Identification
Copyright
© 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
