title: Procoagulant activity of circulating microparticles is associated with the presence of moderate calcified plaque burden detected by multislice computed tomography.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Circulating microparticles (MPs) have been reported to be associated with coronary artery disease (CAD). In this study, we explored the relationship between MPs procoagulant activity and characteristics of atherosclerotic plaque detected by 64-slice computed tomography angiography (CTA).
  
  
  METHODS
  In 127 consecutive patients with CAD but without acute coronary syndrome and who underwent 64-slice CTA, MPs procoagulant activity in plasma (by a thrombin generation test), soluble form of lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor-1 (sLOX-1) and N(epsilon)-(carboxymethyl) lysine (CML) circulating levels (by ELISA) were measured. A quantitative volumetric analysis of the lumen and plaque burden of the vessel wall (soft and calcific components), for the three major coronary vessels, was performed. The patients were classified in three groups according to the presence of calcium volume: non-calcified plaque (NCP) group (calcium volume (%) = 0), moderate calcified plaque (MCP) group (0 < calcium volume (%) < 1), and calcified plaque (CP) group (calcium volume (%) ≥ 1).
  
  
  RESULTS
  MPs procoagulant activity and CML levels were higher in MCP group than in CP or NCP group (P = 0.009 and P = 0.027, respectively). MPs procoagulant activity was positively associated with CML (r = 0.317, P < 0.0001) and sLOX-1 levels (r = 0.216, P = 0.0025).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MPs procoagulant activity was higher in the MCP patient group and correlated positively with sLOX-1 and CML levels, suggesting that it may characterize a state of blood vulnerability that may locally precipitate plaque instability and increase the risk of subsequent major cardiovascular events.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Physiology, CNR, San Cataldo Research Area, Via Moruzzi, 1, 56124 Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Serena
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Del Turco
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Physiology, CNR, San Cataldo Research Area, Via Moruzzi, 1, 56124 Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Basta
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Physiology, CNR, San Cataldo Research Area, Via Moruzzi, 1, 56124 Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mazzarisi
authors.affiliation: Fondazione G. Monasterio CNR-Regione Toscana, Via Moruzzi, 1, 56124 Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Debora
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Battaglia
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Physiology, CNR, San Cataldo Research Area, Via Moruzzi, 1, 56124 Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Navarra
authors.affiliation: Fondazione G. Monasterio CNR-Regione Toscana, Via Moruzzi, 1, 56124 Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Coceani
authors.affiliation: Fondazione G. Monasterio CNR-Regione Toscana, Via Moruzzi, 1, 56124 Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Massimiliano
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bianchi
authors.affiliation: Fondazione G. Monasterio CNR-Regione Toscana, Via Moruzzi, 1, 56124 Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Mathis
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schlueter
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Physiology, CNR, San Cataldo Research Area, Via Moruzzi, 1, 56124 Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Marraccini
keywords: Computed tomography; Coronary artery disease; Low density lipoprotein; Lysine; Microparticles
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