Population variability in the effect of aspirin on platelet function. Implications for clinical trials and therapy.

Little or nothing is known about how the inhibitory effect of aspirin on platelets distributes in the general population. We describe a simple whole-blood assay for the extent of aspirin-induced inhibition of platelet aggregation and its application to 31 aspirin-treated subjects. Platelet inhibition to two or more 325-mg aspirin tablets was measured using a newly developed method in 31 healthy, young adults.