title: Platelet hyperreactivity and inefficient spontaneous thrombolysis in patients at high risk from an acute coronary event.
abstract: We conducted a retrospective study to correlate thrombotic variables with the risk from an acute coronary event, using a new in vitro technique, which measures haemostasis, thrombolysis and coagulation from non-anticoagulated blood samples. The analysis was based on data from 63 patients who had undergone exercise radionuclide ventriculography, 50 of whom were considered to be at risk from an acute coronary event because they satisfied at least one of the following three criteria: (1) coronary angiography documented disease, (2) prior myocardial infarction, (3) ventriculography assessed provocable ischaemia. Fifty matched normal subjects were used as controls. Significantly enhanced haemostasis was measured in patients considered at risk from acute coronary event, and haemostatic activity was further increased in patients with provocable ischaemia. Haemostasis in eight patients at risk (provocable ischaemia), who continued with the medication during the test, did not differ significantly from the controls. Greatly reduced spontaneous thrombolytic activity was measured in all patients at risk from acute coronary events. These findings suggest the presence of hyperactive platelets in patients at risk from acute coronary events, with an additional risk of greatly reduced spontaneous thrombolytic activity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, St. Bartholomew's Hospital, London.
authors.forename: N S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Peters
authors.forename: L S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Abrams
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Dymond
authors.forename: I B
authors.initials: IB
authors.lastname: Kovacs
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001777:Blood Coagulation; D001780:Blood Coagulation Tests / Q000295:instrumentation; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000502:physiology*; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005342:Fibrinolysis; D006487:Hemostasis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000097:blood* / Q000517:prevention & control; D010979:Platelet Function Tests / Q000295:instrumentation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors