[Aspirin resistance in diabetic patients: laboratory entity or clinical reality?]

Abstract

Aspirin is considered the gold standard antiplatelet therapy for primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular (CV) disease. However, it appears less protective in diabetic patients than in the general population. This difference is attributed to a higher level of aspirin resistance observed in these subjects when in vitro tests are performed. The frequency of this problem, its mechanistic aspects and its clinical relevance remain largely unknown. Our analysis of the literature confirms a higher proportion of platelets resistant to aspirin in diabetic than in control individuals. This observation deserves further research because it may be associated with an increased risk of CV events and worse prognosis.