title: Increased platelet activity in patients with isolated coronary artery ectasia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The common coexistence with coronary artery disease has led to the suggestion that coronary artery ectasia (CAE) is a variant of coronary artery disease. The mechanisms, however, responsible for CAE formation during the atherosclerotic process and the exact clinical significance are not well known. In this study, we aimed to investigate platelet activity in patients with isolated CAE by using specific markers of platelet activation as P-selectin, beta-thromboglobulin (beta-TG) and platelet factor 4 (PF4).
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-two patients with isolated CAE without significant stenosis and 30 control participants with angiographically normal coronary arteries were included in this study. According to the angiographic definition used in the Coronary Artery Surgery Study, a vessel is considered to be ectasic when its diameter is > or = 1.5 times that of the adjacent normal segment in segmental ectasia. Plasma P-selectin, beta-TG and PF4 levels were measured in all patients and control participants using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients with isolated CAE were detected to have significantly higher levels of plasma P-selectin, beta-TG and PF4 in comparison with control participants with angiographically normal coronary arteries (P-selectin: 248+/-46 vs. 154+/-32 ng/ml, respectively, P<0.001; beta-TG: 51+/-19 vs. 21+/-9 ng/ml, respectively, P<0.001; PF4: 58+/-23 vs. 33+/-11 ng/ml, respectively, P<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In conclusion, we have shown for the first time that patients with isolated CAE have raised levels of plasma P-selectin, beta-TG and PF4 compared with control participants with angiographically normal coronary arteries, suggesting increased platelet activation in patients with CAE.
authors: Department of Cardiology, Turkiye Yuksek Ihtisas Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. drasaatciyasar@yahoo.com
authors: Ayse Saatci
authors: AS
authors: Yasar
authors: Ali Riza
authors: AR
authors: Erbay
authors: Selime
authors: S
authors: Ayaz
authors: Hasan
authors: H
authors: Turhan
authors: Fatma
authors: F
authors: Metin
authors: Erdogan
authors: E
authors: Ilkay
authors: Irfan
authors: I
authors: Sabah
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000502:physiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004108:Dilatation, Pathologic / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019007:P-Selectin / Q000097:blood; D015539:Platelet Activation / Q000502:physiology*; D010978:Platelet Factor 4 / Q000097:blood; D011446:Prospective Studies; D001620:beta-Thromboglobulin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D019007:P-Selectin; D001620:beta-Thromboglobulin; D010978:Platelet Factor 4