Thromb Haemost 1998; 80(02): 298-301
DOI: 10.1055/s-0037-1615191
Rapid Communication
Schattauer GmbH

Increased Fraction of Circulating Activated Platelets in Acute and Previous Cerebrovascular Ischemia

Armin J. Grau
1   From the Neurology Department, University of Heidelberg, Department of Clinical Chemistry, Städtisches Klinikum Karlsruhe, Germany
,
Andreas Ruf
1   From the Neurology Department, University of Heidelberg, Department of Clinical Chemistry, Städtisches Klinikum Karlsruhe, Germany
,
Axel Vogt
1   From the Neurology Department, University of Heidelberg, Department of Clinical Chemistry, Städtisches Klinikum Karlsruhe, Germany
,
Christoph Lichy
1   From the Neurology Department, University of Heidelberg, Department of Clinical Chemistry, Städtisches Klinikum Karlsruhe, Germany
,
Florian Buggle
1   From the Neurology Department, University of Heidelberg, Department of Clinical Chemistry, Städtisches Klinikum Karlsruhe, Germany
,
Heinrich Patscheke
1   From the Neurology Department, University of Heidelberg, Department of Clinical Chemistry, Städtisches Klinikum Karlsruhe, Germany
,
Werner Hacke
1   From the Neurology Department, University of Heidelberg, Department of Clinical Chemistry, Städtisches Klinikum Karlsruhe, Germany
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Received 03 July 1997

Accepted after resubmission 09 April 1998

Publication Date:
08 December 2017 (online)

Summary

Determination of circulating activated platelets may be helpful to estimate the prognosis and to stratify therapies in arterial vascular disorders including stroke. We used flow cytometry and phase contrast microscopy to study whether the fraction of platelets expressing p-selectin and CD63 and the fraction of platelets with shape change are increased in patients with acute and previous cerebrovascular ischemia.

The proportion of platelets expressing activation dependent antigens was higher in patients with acute (n = 24; p-selectin: 8.23 ± 4.21%; CD63: 3.53 ± 2.53%) and with previous cerebrovascular ischemia (n = 46; 3.86 ± 1.98%; 2.80 ± 1.79%) as compared to age- and sex-matched control subjects (n = 35; 2.17 ± 0.96%; 1.79 ± 0.75%; p ≤0.005, respectively). In patients with previous ischemia, there was no difference between treatment with aspirin (n = 25) or phenprocoumon (n = 21). Hypertension, diabetes mellitus and smoking were not associated with increased antigen expression (analysis of variance). The fraction of discoid platelets and platelet counts were not significantly different between groups.

Our results indicate increased expression of platelet neoantigens in acute and to a less degree in previous cerebrovascular ischemia. Ongoing platelet activation after cerebrovascular ischemia despite therapy with aspirin or phenprocoumon indicates that new anti-platelet drugs may be of benefit for these patients. Flow cytometry appears to be a useful tool to assess platelet function in cerebrovascular ischemia.

 
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