title: Platelet activation as a marker of heart attack.
abstract: A key component of the pathology of myocardial infarction (i.e. heart attack) is platelet-rich thrombosis within the coronary arteries. In many cases this occurs despite the use of anti-platelet drugs such as aspirin, and this, alongside other evidence, prompts the search for novel markers of platelet activity, such as levels of platelet product soluble P selectin in the plasma. However, by themselves, high levels of soluble P-selectin are of insufficient sensitivity and specificity to contribute to the management of the chest pain that may be a heart attack. Conversely, the current report shows that low levels of soluble P selectin contribute to the diagnosis of myocardial infarction because, as low levels are so rarely found in this condition, heart attack can be ruled out. If confirmed, this will be a major step forward in the management of acute chest pain.
authors.affiliation: Haemostasis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology Unit, University of Birmingham Centre for Cardiovascular Sciences, Department of Medicine, City Hospital, Birmingham, B18 7QH, UK. a.blann@bham.ac.uk
authors.forename: Andrew D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Blann
authors.forename: Zoe
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Draper
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D019007:P-Selectin / Q000032:analysis; D015539:Platelet Activation
chemical_list: D019007:P-Selectin