Soluble but not platelet P-selectin correlates with spontaneous platelet aggregation: a pilot study.
BACKGROUND
P-selectin (PS) is a marker of platelet activation measured on the platelet surface as platelet PS (pPS) or in serum as soluble PS (sPS). Controversy remains over the exact relationship between sPS, pPS, and other markers such as spontaneous platelet aggregation (SPA).


OBJECTIVE
To investigate correlations between pPS, sPS, and SPA in patients with peripheral arterial disease.


METHODS
SPA, pPS, and sPS levels were measured in venous blood sampled from patients following intermittent claudication (n = 18) or an acute stroke (n = 18).


RESULTS
SPA and sPS correlated significantly in the claudicants (Pearson correlation coefficient, r = 0.661; P = .0020) and stroke patients (r = 0.514; P = .020). No significant correlation was identified between pPS and SPA, or sPS and pPS.


CONCLUSIONS
The 2 methods of assessing PS are not comparable. Although pPS is accepted as a platelet activation marker, sPS may be a better indicator of aggregation represented by SPA.
Cleanthis
Marcus
M
Department of Vascular Surgery, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Gateshead, UK.
Smout
Jonathan
J
Bhattacharya
Vishwanath
V
Ashour
Hamdy
H
Dyker
Alexander
A
Ford
Gary Ashley
GA
Mikhailidis
Dimitri P
DP
Stansby
Gerard Patrick
GP
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000737:chemistry*; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007383:Intermittent Claudication / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019007:P-Selectin / Q000097:blood*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015539:Platelet Activation; D010974:Platelet Aggregation; D020521:Stroke / Q000097:blood
D019007:P-Selectin