Brief communication: duration of platelet dysfunction after a 7-day course of Ibuprofen

Abstract

Background: Despite a paucity of evidence, clinicians routinely advise that patients discontinue using nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), including ibuprofen, at least 1 week before most surgical procedures.

Objective: To define the duration of ibuprofen-induced platelet dysfunction.

Design: Prospective cohort study.

Setting: Denver/Aurora, Colorado.

Participants: 11 healthy adult volunteers.

Measurements: Individuals were tested at baseline and serially after completion of a 7-day course of ibuprofen (600 mg orally every 8 hours). The platelet function analyzer (PFA-100, Dade Behring, Newark, Delaware), a test that has replaced the bleeding time in many clinical settings, was used.

Results: All participants exhibited normal platelet function before starting ibuprofen. Platelet dysfunction was apparent after completion of the ibuprofen course in 7 of the 11 participants and normalized by 24 hours after the last ibuprofen dose.

Limitations: The sample size in this study was small, and no participants had a major illness. Correlation between PFA-100 results and clinical bleeding has not been established.

Conclusions: Platelet function seems to normalize within 24 hours after cessation of regular ibuprofen use in healthy individuals. Further studies are warranted to provide a rational basis for timing of NSAID withdrawal in a range of patients undergoing surgery.