Background

Clopidogrel is commonly prescribed to cats with perceived increased risk of thromboembolic events, but little information exists regarding its antiplatelet effects.

Objective

To determine effects of clopidogrel on platelet responsiveness in cats with or without the A31P mutation in the MYBPC3 gene. A secondary aim was to characterize variability in feline platelet responses to clopidogrel.

Animals

Fourteen healthy cats from a Maine Coon/outbred mixed Domestic cat colony: 8 cats homozygous for A31P mutation in the MYPBC3 gene and 6 wild-type cats without the A31P mutation.

Methods

Ex vivo study. All cats received clopidogrel (18.75 mg PO q24h) for 14 days. Before and after clopidogrel treatment, adenosine diphosphate (ADP)-induced P-selectin expression was evaluated. ADP- and thrombin-induced platelet aggregation was measured by optical aggregometry (OA). Platelet pVASP and ADP receptor response index (ARRI) were measured by Western blot analysis.

Results

Platelet activation from cats with the A31P mutation was significantly (P = .0095) increased [35.55% (18.58-48.55) to 58.90% (24.85-69.90)], in response to ADP. Clopidogrel treatment attenuated ADP-induced P-selectin expression and platelet aggregation. ADP- and PGE₁ -treated platelets had a similar level of pVASP as PGE₁ -treated platelets after clopidogrel treatment. Clopidogrel administration resulted in significantly lower ARRI [24.13% (12.46-35.50) to 11.30% (-7.383 to 23.27)] (P = .017). Two of 13 cats were nonresponders based on OA and flow cytometry.

Conclusion and clinical importance

Clopidogrel is effective at attenuating platelet activation and aggregation in some cats. Cats with A31P mutation had increased platelet activation relative to the variable response seen in wild-type cats.