Thromb Haemost 2013; 110(05): 876-887
DOI: 10.1160/TH13-02-0145
Theme Issue Article
Schattauer GmbH

Genetic variation of platelet function and pharmacology: An update of current knowledge

Tobias Geisler
1   Medizinische Klinik, Innere Medizin III, Kardiologie und Kreislauferkrankungen, Tübingen, Germany
,
Elke Schaeffeler
1   Medizinische Klinik, Innere Medizin III, Kardiologie und Kreislauferkrankungen, Tübingen, Germany
,
Elke Schaeffeler
1   Medizinische Klinik, Innere Medizin III, Kardiologie und Kreislauferkrankungen, Tübingen, Germany
,
Meinrad Gawaz
1   Medizinische Klinik, Innere Medizin III, Kardiologie und Kreislauferkrankungen, Tübingen, Germany
,
Matthias Schwab
1   Medizinische Klinik, Innere Medizin III, Kardiologie und Kreislauferkrankungen, Tübingen, Germany
› Institutsangaben
Weitere Informationen

Publikationsverlauf

Received: 19. Februar 2013

Accepted after major revision: 25. April 2013

Publikationsdatum:
01. Dezember 2017 (online)

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Summary

Platelets are critically involved in atherosclerosis and acute thrombosis. The platelet phenotype shows a wide variability documented by the inherited difference of platelet reactivity, platelet volume and count and function of platelet surface receptors. Several candidate genes have been put into focus and investigated for their functional and prognostic role in healthy individuals and patients with cardiovascular (CV) disease treated with antiplatelet agents. In addition to genetic variation, other clinical, disease-related and demographic factors are important so-called non-genetic factors. Due to the small effect sizes of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in candidate genes and due to the low allele frequencies of functional relevant candidate SNPs, the identification of genetic risk factors with high predictive values generally depends on the sample size of study cohorts. In the post-genome era new array and bioinformatic technologies facilitate high throughput genome-wide association studies (GWAS) for the identification of novel candidate genes in large cardiovascular cohorts. One of the crucial aspects of platelet genomic studies is the precise definition of a specific clinical phenotype (e.g. stent thrombosis) as this will impact importantly the findings of genomic studies like GWAS. Here, we provide an update on genetic variation of platelet receptors and drug metabolising enzymes under specific consideration of data derived by GWAS. The potential impact of this information and the role in personalised therapeutic concepts will be discussed.