Comparison of antiplatelet potency of sarpogrelate, aspirin, and beraprost in healthy volunteers according to in-vitro closure time

This open-label prospective study compared the antiplatelet potency of sarpogrelate, aspirin, and beraprost in 20 healthy volunteers according to in-vitro closure time. Volunteers were assigned to receive sarpogrelate, aspirin, or beraprost for 14 days, then given 14 days of washout, then switched to another of these medications. We measured in-vitro closure time using a platelet function analyzer with collagen/epinephrine (CEPI). We also measured bleeding time, von Willebrand factor (vWF), D-dimer, high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), and fibrinogen. Baseline parameters were normal in all individuals and were not significantly different among the three groups. In patients who received sarpogrelate, there was no difference in CEPI-closure time at baseline and after 14 days. Aspirin and beraprost significantly prolonged the day 14 CEPI-closure time compared with baseline, from 145 +/- 37 to 259 +/- 41 s (P < 0.0001) and from 134 +/- 37 to 150 +/- 27 s (P = 0.035), respectively. The CEPI-closure time change was greater for aspirin than for beraprost (178 +/- 28 vs. 112 +/- 20%, P < 0.0001). None of the drugs changed the bleeding times of levels of vWF, D-dimer, hs-CRP, and fibrinogen. In conclusion, ingestion of aspirin (100 mg daily) and beraprost (120 microg daily) for 14 days significantly prolonged in-vitro closure time but ingestion of saprogrelate (300 mg daily) for 14 days did not. Aspirin was superior to beraprost in antiplatelet potency, as assessed by in-vitro closure time with CEPI.