Routine clinical anti-platelet agents have limited efficacy in modulating hypershear-mediated platelet activation associated with mechanical circulatory support

Significant PAS reduction was observed for all drugs after exposure to 30 dyne/cm2 constant shear stress, and all drugs but dipyridamole after exposure to the 30th percentile shear stress waveform of the cfVAD. However, only cilostazol was significantly effective after 70 dyne/cm2 constant shear stress exposure, though no significant reduction was observed upon exposure to median shear stress conditions in the cfVAD. These results, coupled with the persistence of reported clinical thrombotic complication, suggest the need for the development of new classes of drugs that are especially designed to mitigate thrombosis in cfVAD patients, while reducing or eliminating the risk of bleeding.