Impact of Hemodialysis on Efficacies of the Antiplatelet Agents in Coronary Artery Disease Patients Complicated with End‑Stage Renal Disease

Background It is controversial whether hemodialysis affects the efficacy of the antiplatelet agents. We aimed to investigate the impact of hemodialysis on efficacies of the antiplatelet agents in coronary artery disease (CAD) patients complicated with end‑stage renal disease (ESRD). Methods 86 CAD patients complicated with ESRD requiring hemodialysis were consecutively enrolled. After 5-day treatment with aspirin and clopidogrel or ticagrelor, the platelet aggregations induced by arachidonic acid (PL AA ) or adenosine diphosphate (PL ADP ), and the P2Y 12 reaction unit (PRU) were measured before and after hemodialysis. The propensity matching score method was adopted to generate a control group with normal renal function from 2439 CAD patients. Results In patients taking aspirin, the PL AA remained unchanged after hemodialysis. In patients taking clopidogrel, the PL ADP (37.26 ± 17.04 vs . 31.77 ± 16.09, p = 0.029) and corresponding clopidogrel resistance (CR) rate (23 [48.9%] vs. 14 [29.8%], p = 0.022) significantly decreased after hemodialysis, though PRU remained unchanged. Subgroup analysis indicated that PL ADP significantly decreased while using polysulfone membrane (36.8 ± 17.9 vs. 31.1 ± 14.5, p = 0.024). In patients taking ticagrelor, PL ADP , and PRU remained unchanged after hemodialysis. ESRD patients had higher incidences of aspirin resistance (AR) and CR compared to those with normal renal function (AR: 16.1% vs. 0%, p = 0.001; CR: 48.4% vs. 24.8%, p = 0.024). Conclusion Hemodialysis does not have negative effect on the efficacies of aspirin, clopidogrel and ticagrelor in ESRD patients with CAD. On the contrary, clopidogrel response may be improved while using the polysulfone membrane during hemodialysis. ESRD patients have higher incidences of AR and CR compared with those with normal renal function. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03330223.