The Relationship between Platelet Aggregation and Time Interval after Venepuncture

Summary

The relationship between the rate of platelet aggregation and the time interval after venepuncture has been studied. Considerable changes in the rates of aggregation and disaggregation of platelets in citrated plasma take place between 30 and 120 minutes after venepuncture. There is a reduction in the rates of irreversible ADP-induced aggregation, the first and second phase of the double wave of ADP-induced aggregation, disaggregation after reversible ADP-induced aggregation, collagen-induced aggregation and the second phase of the double wave of adrenaline-induced aggregation. In contrast, the rate of the first wave of adrenaline-induced aggregation increases with time after venepuncture. 5-HT induced aggregation appears to be unaffected. These effects were not due to changes in the pH of the plasma. It is suggested that any attempt to quantify platelet aggregation during the comparison of groups of individuals, or in the study of the effect of anti-platelet drugs in single individuals must take into account the time interval between venepuncture and the measurement of platelet aggregation.

• References

• 1 Aledort L. M. Platelet aggregation. In: Johnson S. A. (ed.), The Circulating Platelet Academic Press; New York and London: 1971: 266
• 2 Bloom A. L, Evans E. P. Plasma fibrinogen and the aggregation of platelets by adenosine diphosphate. Lancet 1969; 1: 349
• 3 Born G. V. R. Aggregation of blood platelets by adenosine diphosphate and its reversal. Nature 1962; 194: 927
• 4 Born G. V. R, Cross M. J. The aggregation of blood platelets. Journal of Physiology 1963; 168: 178
• 5 Clayton S, Born G. V. R, Cross M. J. Inhibition of the aggregation of blood platelets by nucleosides. Nature 1963; 200: 138
• 6 Cronberg S. Evaluation of platelet aggregation. Coagulation 1970; 3: 139
• 7 Emmons P. R, Mitchell J. R. A. Postoperative changes in platelet-clumping activity. Lancet 1965; 1: 71
• 8 Fyfe T, Hamilton E. Effect of variation of the interval between venepuncture and measurement of platelet adhesiveness by the Payling Wright Method. Lancet 1967; 2: 542
• 9 Harrison M. J. G, Emmons P. R, Mitchell J. R. A. The effect of white cells on platelet aggregation. Thrombosis et Diathesis Haemorrhagica 1966; 16: 105
• 10 Harrison M. J. G, Emmons P. R, Mitchell J. R. A. The variability of human platelet aggregation. Journal of Atherosclerosis Research 1967; 7: 197
• 11 Hellem A. J. The adhesiveness of human blood platelets in vitro. Scandinavian Journal of Clinical and Laboratory Investigation 1960; 12 Suppl. 51
• 12 Holmsen H, Day H. J, Stormorken H. 1969. The blood platelet release reaction. Scandinavian Journal of Haematology, Suppl. 8
• 13 Kattlove H. E, Alexander B, White F. The effect of cold on platelets II. Platelet function after short-term storage at cold temperatures. Blood 1972; 40: 688
• 14 MacMillan D. C. Secondary clumping effect in human citrated platelet-rich plasma produced by adenosine diphosphate and adrenaline. Nature 1966; 211: 140
• 15 Mills D. C. B, Robb I. A, Roberts G. C. K. The release of nucleotides. 5-HT and enzymes from human blood platelets during aggregation. Journal of Physiology 1968; 195: 715
• 16 O’Brien J. R. Platelet aggregation. Part II: Some results from a new method of study. Journal of Clinical Pathology 1962; 15: 452
• 17 O’Brien J. R. Variability in the aggregation of human blood platelets by adrenaline. 1964; a Nature 202: 1188
• 18 O’Brien J. R. A comparison of platelet aggregation produced by seven com-pounds and a comparison of their inhibitors. Journal of Clinical Pathology 1964; b 17: 275
• 19 O’Brien J. R. Effects of salicylates on human platelets. Lancet 1968; 1: 779
• 20 O’Brien J. R, Heywood J. B, Heady J. A. The quantitation of platelet aggregation induced by four compounds : a study in relation to myocardial infarction. Thrombosis et Diathesis Haemorrhagica 1966; 16: 752
• 21 Praga C. A, POgliani E. M. Effect of temperature on ADP-induced platelet aggregation. Thrombosis et Diathesis Haemorrhagica 1973; 29: 183
• 22 Rogers A. B. The effect of pH on human platelet aggregation induced by epine-phrine and ADP. Proceedings of the Society for Experimental and Biological Medicine 1972; 139: 1100
• 23 Zucker M. B. Proteolytic inhibitors, contact and other variables in the release reaction of human platelets. Thrombosis et Diathesis Haemorrhagica 1972; 28: 393