AI delivers real-time blood clot monitoring, helping cardiologists make treatment decisions
Researchers have developed a new way to potentially detect blood clots before they occur, sharing their findings in Nature Communications.[1] The goal is to use this technique, which involves a state-of-the-art microscope and advanced artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms, to monitor the risk of clotting in coronary artery disease (CAD) patients.
“Platelets play a crucial role in heart disease, especially in CAD, because they are directly involved in forming blood clots,” lead author Kazutoshi Hirose, MD, explained in a statement. “To prevent dangerous clots, patients with CAD are often treated with antiplatelet drugs. However, it's still challenging to accurately evaluate how well these drugs are working in each individual, which makes monitoring platelet activity an important goal for both doctors and researchers.”
Hirose et al. used a frequency-division multiplexed microscope to take high-speed pictures of blood cells in motion. That is when the group’s AI came in, identifying signs of blood clots before they had even fully formed.
The researchers tested their technique using blood samples from more than 200 patients, finding that it worked in a way that could help cardiologists manage antiplatelet therapy for CAD patients.
“Just like some people need more or less of a painkiller depending on their body, we found that people respond differently to antiplatelet drugs,” Hirose added. “In fact, some patients are affected by recurrent thrombosis and others are suffering from recurrences of bleeding events even on the same antiplatelet medications. Our technology can help doctors see how each individual’s platelets are behaving in real time. That means treatments could be adjusted to better match each person’s needs.”
Another key takeaway from the team’s analysis was the fact that their technique even worked on blood drawn from the arm, as opposed to blood from arteries in the heart.
“Typically, if doctors want to understand what's happening in the arteries, especially the coronary arteries, they need to do invasive procedures, like inserting a catheter through the wrist or groin to collect blood,” Hirose said. “What we found is that just taking a regular blood sample from a vein in the arm can still provide meaningful information about platelet activity in the arteries. That’s exciting because it makes the process much easier, safer and more convenient.”
The team did note that their research had certain limitations. It was a single-center study, for example, and it is unclear if different patient characteristics may make this technique less effective. Additional research is still necessary, they added, including long-term studies with a more diverse patient population.
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Michael has more than 18 years of experience as a professional writer and editor. He has written at length about cardiology, radiology, artificial intelligence and other key healthcare topics.