Aspirin-insensitive thromboxane biosynthesis in essential thrombocythemia is explained by accelerated renewal of the drug target

Essential thrombocythemia (ET) is characterized by enhanced platelet generation and thrombotic complications. Oncedaily low-dose aspirin incompletely inhibits platelet thromboxane A 2 (TXA 2) in the majority of ET patients. In the present study, we investigated the determinants of aspirin-insensitive platelet TXA 2 biosynthesis and whether it could be further suppressed by changing the aspirin dose, formulation, or dosing interval. In 41 aspirin-treated ET patients, the immature platelet count predicted serum TXB 2 independently of platelet count, age, JAK-2 V617F mutation, or cytoreduction (β = 3.53, P = .001). Twenty-one aspirin-treated patients with serum TXB 2 ≥ 4 ng/mL at 24 hours after dosing were randomized to the following 7-day regimens in a crossover design: enteric-coated aspirin 100 mg twice daily, enteric-coated aspirin 200 mg once daily, or plain aspirin 100 mg once daily. A twice-daily regimen caused a further 88% median (IQR, 78%-92%, P < .001) TXB2 reduction and normalized the functional platelet response to aspirin, as assessed by urinary 11-dehydro-TXB 2 excretion and the VerifyNow Aspirin assay. Doubling the aspirin dose reduced serum TXB 2 only partially by 39% median (IQR, 29%-54%, P < .05). We conclude that the abnormal megakaryopoiesis characterizing ET accounts for a shorterlasting antiplatelet effect of low-dose aspirin through faster renewal of platelet cyclooxygenase-1, and impaired platelet inhibition can be rescued by modulating the aspirin dosing interval rather than the dose. © 2012 by The American Society of Hematology.