Summary. Background: Thienopyridines are metabolized to active metabolites that irreversibly inhibit the platelet P2Y 12 adenosine diphosphate receptor. The pharmacodynamic response to clopidogrel is more variable than the response to prasugrel, but the reasons for variation in response to clopidogrel are not well characterized. Objective: To determine the relationship between genetic variation in cytochrome P450 (CYP) isoenzymes and the pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic response to prasugrel and clopidogrel. Methods: Genotyping was performed for CYP1A2, CYP2B6, CYP2C19, CYP2C9, CYP3A4 and CYP3A5 on samples from healthy subjects participating in studies evaluating pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic responses to prasugrel (60 mg, n = 71) or clopidogrel (300 mg, n = 74). Results: In subjects receiving clopidogrel, the presence of the CYP2C19*2 loss of function variant was significantly associated with lower exposure to clopidogrel active metabolite, as measured by the area under the concentration curve (AUC 0-24 ; P = 0.004) and maximal plasma concentration (C max ; P = 0.020), lower inhibition of platelet aggregation at 4 h (P = 0.003) and poor-responder status (P = 0.030). Similarly, CYP2C9 loss of function variants were significantly associated with lower AUC 0-24 (P = 0.043), lower C max (P = 0.006), lower IPA (P = 0.046) and poor-responder status (P = 0.024). For prasugrel, there was no relationship observed between CYP2C19 or CYP2C9 loss of function genotypes and exposure to the active metabolite of prasugrel or pharmacodynamic response. Conclusions: The common loss of function polymorphisms of CYP2C19 and CYP2C9 are associated with decreased exposure to the active metabolite of clopidogrel but not prasugrel. Decreased exposure to its active metabolite is associated with a diminished pharmacodynamic response to clopidogrel.

Background The cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers amyloid beta 1–42, total tau, and phosphorylated tau are used increasingly for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) research and patient management. However, there are large variations in biomarker measurements among and within laboratories. Methods Data from the first nine rounds of the Alzheimer’s Association quality control program was used to define the extent and sources of analytical variability. In each round, three CSF samples prepared at the Clinical Neurochemistry Laboratory (Mölndal, Sweden) were analyzed by single-analyte enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), a multiplexing xMAP assay, or an immunoassay with electrochemoluminescence detection. Results A total of 84 laboratories participated. Coefficients of variation (CVs) between laboratories were around 20% to 30%; within-run CVs, less than 5% to 10%; and longitudinal within-laboratory CVs, 5% to 19%. Interestingly, longitudinal within-laboratory CV differed between biomarkers at individual laboratories, suggesting that a component of it was assay dependent. Variability between kit lots and between laboratories both had a major influence on amyloid beta 1–42 measurements, but for total tau and phosphorylated tau, between-kit lot effects were much less than between-laboratory effects. Despite the measurement variability, the between-laboratory consistency in classification of samples (using prehoc-derived cutoffs for AD) was high (>90% in 15 of 18 samples for ELISA and in 12 of 18 samples for xMAP). Conclusions The overall variability remains too high to allow assignment of universal biomarker cutoff values for a specific intended use. Each laboratory must ensure longitudinal stability in its measurements and use internally qualified cutoff levels. Further standardization of laboratory procedures and improvement of kit performance will likely increase the usefulness of CSF AD biomarkers for researchers and clinicians.

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Introduction An Elecsys® Amyloid β (Aβ [1–42]) immunoassay cutoff for classification of patients with Alzheimer's disease was investigated. Methods Cerebrospinal fluid samples collected from patients with mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's disease were analyzed by Elecsys® immunoassays: (1) Aβ (1–42), (2) total tau, and (3) phosphorylated tau. Cutoffs (Aβ [1–42] and ratios with tau) were estimated by method comparison between AlzBio3 ( n = 206), mixture modeling ( n = 216), and concordance with florbetapir F 18 imaging-based classification ( n = 75). Results A 1065-pg/mL (95% confidence interval: 985–1153) Elecsys® Aβ (1–42) cutoff provided 94% overall percentage agreement with AlzBio3. Comparable cutoff estimates (95% confidence interval) were derived from mixture modeling (equally weighted: 1017 [949–1205] pg/mL; prevalence weighted: 1172 [1081–1344] pg/mL) and concordance with florbetapir F 18 imaging (visual read: 1198 [998–1591] pg/mL; automated: 1198 [1051–1638] pg/mL). Discussion Based on three approaches, a 1100-pg/mL Elecsys® Aβ (1–42) cutoff is suitable for clinical trials with similar populations and preanalytical handling.

Mean exposure to the prasugrel active metabolite following prasugrel 60-mg LD and during daily 10-mg or 5-mg MD was higher in each of the Asian groups than in the Caucasian group, which resulted in greater platelet inhibition.

The aims of this open-label, randomized, dose-escalation pharmacodynamic study of prasugrel, an orally active antiplatelet agent, were to assess its interaction with aspirin (ASA, 325 mg) in healthy subjects after a loading dose (LD) and subsequent 5 days of once-daily maintenance doses (MD) of prasugrel or the active comparator, clopidogrel. We measured platelet aggregation induced by ADP, collagen, and TRAP and compared effects on maximal and residual platelet aggregation responses. On a background of ASA, subjects were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 prasugrel treatment groups (LD/MD in mg: 20/5, 30/7.5, 40/10, or 60/15; n = 8/group) or to clopidogrel 300 mg LD/75 mg MD (n = 11). Prasugrel dosedependently inhibited ADP-induced platelet aggregation and exhibited higher levels of platelet inhibition than clopidogrel or ASA alone. Prasugrel plus ASA resulted in additive inhibition of collagenand TRAP-induced platelet aggregation. Although inhibition of residual aggregation was greater than inhibition of maximal aggregation, values were highly correlated. The safety and tolerability of prasugrel plus ASA were also monitored. Within the limitations of the study, prasugrel was found to be well tolerated when dosed as LD followed by MD in the presence of ASA and provided greater platelet inhibition than ASA alone.

Optimal recovery of Abeta peptides was obtained from blood drawn into EDTA tubes and processed within 4 h. Plasma that was refrigerated after separation and analysed within 4 h gave comparable results to samples immediately processed and frozen at -70 degrees C.

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