title: Evidence of platelet activation in hypertension.
abstract: To test the hypothesis that platelet activation is present in hypertension, we measured plasma markers beta thromboglobulin and soluble P-selectin in hypertensive patients and normotensive controls. Both markers were raised in the patients (P < 0.05), and in a subgroup of patients, beta thromboglobulin was reduced with successful treatment of hypertension with the ACE inhibitor quinapril. We suggest that reversible platelet activation is present in hypertension. This may be a contributing factor to the link between this risk factor and the development of thrombotic disease such as stroke.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, City Hospital, Birmingham, UK.
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Blann
authors.forename: G Y
authors.initials: GY
authors.lastname: Lip
authors.forename: I F
authors.initials: IF
authors.lastname: Islim
authors.forename: D G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Beevers
mesh_terms: D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015539:Platelet Activation