PLATELET-ASSOCIATED TISSUE FACTOR AS A NEW BIOMARKER FOR THROMBOTIC RISK STRATIFICATION IN PATIENTS WITH CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE.

Enhancing thrombotic risk stratification in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) is crucial for the prevention and management of cardiovascular disease. Existing risk scores, which predict mortality risk and/or the likelihood of adverse cardiovascular events, are based on clinical and laboratory parameters. However, none of these scores incorporates the elevated platelet activation observed in CAD, a critical factor influencing disease progression.

Over the past two decades, research has consistently shown that activated platelets play a pivotal role in plaque formation. These platelets, together with fibrin, form the primary components of thrombi that obstruct coronary arteries, making them central to the pathogenesis of coronary syndromes. Published studies have highlighted how platelet activation triggers the expression of Tissue Factor (TF), a key glycoprotein involved in blood coagulation and thrombotic complications in atherosclerosis. Notably, in patients with coronary syndrome, platelet TF expression is significantly higher than in healthy individuals. The functional ability of platelet TF to generate thrombin further enhances the pro-thrombotic potential of these platelets, underscoring their critical role in thrombus formation.

The objective of this study is to validate the predictive value of platelet Tissue Factor (TF) for cardiovascular events in a cohort of secondary prevention patients treated with antiplatelet drugs, including clopidogrel, ticagrelor, prasugrel, and/or aspirin. The primary endpoint is the assessment of all-cause mortality and cardiovascular death, over a 5-year follow-up period from admission.