title: Leukocyte and platelet activation in patients with giant cell arteritis and polymyalgia rheumatica: a clue to thromboembolic risks?
abstract: Ischemia is a leading causes of morbidity in giant cell arteritis (GCA). We studied circulating platelets and leukocytes in patients with GCA and with polymyalgia rheumatica. Normal healthy donors (>60 a) served as controls. Patients had a significantly greater fraction of platelets expressing P-selectin, of platelet-Nph and platelet-Mo aggregates, and of Nph and Mo expressing tissue factor. These differences were correlated with the percentage of platelets expressing P-selectin and were not influenced by clinical features or by systemic inflammation. Activated circulating leukocytes and platelets could contribute to indolent vessel inflammation and possibly to thromboembolic events in patients with systemic large vessel vasculitis.
authors.affiliation: San Raffaele Scientific Institute, University of Vita-Salute San Raffaele, via Olgettina 58, 20132, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Norma
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Maugeri
authors.forename: Mattia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Baldini
authors.forename: Patrizia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rovere-Querini
authors.forename: Attilio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maseri
authors.forename: Maria Grazia
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Sabbadini
authors.forename: Angelo A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Manfredi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000378:metabolism; D013700:Giant Cell Arteritis / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D019007:P-Selectin / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015539:Platelet Activation / Q000276:immunology*; D011111:Polymyalgia Rheumatica / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D012307:Risk Factors; D013923:Thromboembolism / Q000276:immunology; D013925:Thromboplastin / Q000096:biosynthesis
chemical_list: D019007:P-Selectin; D013925:Thromboplastin