Platelet Glycoprotein IIIa Gene Polymorphism (Leu33Pro) and Aspirin Resistance in a Very Elderly Chinese Population

Objectives: To study the relationship between platelet glycoprotein IIIa gene (GP IIIa) polymorphism (Leu33Pro) and aspirin resistance in a very elderly Chinese population. Methods: Four hundred fifty very elderly Chinese people receiving aspirin therapy were enrolled in the study. Patients who underwent arachnoid acid-induced platelet aggregation were then divided into two groups based on their resistance to aspirin: aspirin-resistant (AR) group (n=236) and aspirin-sensitive (AS) group (n=214). The Leu33Pro polymorphism of the GP IIIa gene was scanned by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment-length polymorphism. Results: In the AR group, 224 participants had the A1/A1 genotype and 12 had the A1/A2 genotype. All patients in the AS group had the A1/A1 genotype. Thus, there was significant difference between these two groups in the genotype distribution (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The genetic polymorphism of the GP IIIa gene was associated with AR in a very elderly Chinese population.