title: Age-related augmentation of stroke tendency evaluated using plasma P-selectin levels.
abstract: Plasma soluble P-selectin is thought to be a useful marker for thrombotic diseases. To evaluate the thrombotic state and risk of stroke in aged healthy subjects, we investigated plasma P-selectin levels in healthy subjects and ischemic stroke patients. Plasma P-selectin was measured in 67 healthy subjects and 35 aged (>or= 65 years of age) patients with chronic ischemic stroke using a sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Plasma P-selectin was significantly higher in aged (>or= 65 years of age) healthy subjects than in young (< 65 years of age) healthy subjects. Significant difference did not exist between aged healthy subjects and aged stroke patients who were not receiving anti-platelet agents. Anti-platelet agent had no significant effect on plasma P-selectin levels in aged stroke patients. The amounts of P-selectin released from platelets into the plasma after stimulation with adenosin diphosphate in young and aged healthy subjects were not significantly different. Elevated levels of P-selectin in aged healthy subjects suggests the existence of a subclinical thrombotic state which can result in a stroke. Elevated P-selectin levels are not thought to be due to platelet hyperfunction.
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Internal Medicine, Hyogo College of Medicine,1-1 Mukogawa-cho, Nishinomiya, Hyogo 663, Japan.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Suehiro
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hosokawa
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Higasa
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Suehiro
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ohe
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kakishita