title: Platelet Adhesion and Thrombus Formation in Whole Blood at Arterial Shear Rate at the End of Pregnancy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Platelet reactivity has not been evaluated in integrated functional testing during normal pregnancy. Here, we analysed platelet functions under arterial shear rate in comparison with static conditions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty pregnant women with uncomplicated pregnancies and 30 healthy non-pregnant women were enrolled in this study. Platelet adhesion to collagen and fibrinogen and subsequent thrombus formation were measured at arterial shear rate in whole blood using a microfluidic and imaging system. Standard light transmission aggregometry, flow cytometry of activation markers in washed platelets and impedance aggregometry in whole blood were also used to assess platelet responsiveness in static conditions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared to non-pregnant controls, thrombus formation on collagen fibres and firm platelet adhesion on fibrinogen under arterial shear rate were significantly reduced in pregnant women. Platelet aggregometry assays in suspension showed a slight increase in platelet reactivity in pregnant women.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  While platelet aggregometry and platelet activation markers in static conditions show little changes in platelet reactivity, monitoring of platelet adhesion and thrombus growth on collagen or fibrinogen under flow condition in whole blood indicates a significant decrease in pregnant women compared to controls. This decrease might contribute to counteract a hypercoagulable state and to reduce the risk of arterial thrombosis.
authors.affiliation: INSERM, U1048, CHU de Toulouse and Université Toulouse 3, Toulouse Cedex 04, France.
authors.forename: Marie-Cécile
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Valéra
authors.affiliation: Service de Gynécologie Obstétrique, CHU de Toulouse, Toulouse, France.
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Parant
authors.affiliation: INSERM, U1043, CNRS, U5282 and Université Toulouse 3, CPTP, Toulouse, France.
authors.forename: Claire
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cenac
authors.affiliation: INSERM, U1027 and Université Toulouse 3, Toulouse, France.|Unité de soutien méthodologique à la recherche clinique, service d'épidémiologie, CHU de Toulouse, Toulouse, France.
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Arnaud
authors.affiliation: INSERM, U1027 and Université Toulouse 3, Toulouse, France.|Unité de soutien méthodologique à la recherche clinique, service d'épidémiologie, CHU de Toulouse, Toulouse, France.
authors.forename: Adeline
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gallini
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Biochimie and Groupe de Recherche en Fertilité Humaine, EA 3694, CHU de Toulouse, Toulouse, France.
authors.forename: Safouane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hamdi
authors.affiliation: INSERM, U1048, CHU de Toulouse and Université Toulouse 3, Toulouse Cedex 04, France.|Laboratoire d'Hématologie, CHU de Toulouse, Toulouse Cedex 04, France.
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sié
authors.affiliation: INSERM, U1048, CHU de Toulouse and Université Toulouse 3, Toulouse Cedex 04, France.
authors.forename: Jean-François
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Arnal
authors.affiliation: INSERM, U1048, CHU de Toulouse and Université Toulouse 3, Toulouse Cedex 04, France.|Laboratoire d'Hématologie, CHU de Toulouse, Toulouse Cedex 04, France.
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Payrastre
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001158:Arteries / Q000473:pathology*; D001777:Blood Coagulation; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000502:physiology*; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D003094:Collagen / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D044085:Microfluidics; D015539:Platelet Activation; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000502:physiology*; D011264:Pregnancy Trimesters; D014914:Whole Blood Coagulation Time
chemical_list: D005340:Fibrinogen; D003094:Collagen
keywords: Adhesion; platelets; pregnancy; shear rate; thrombus growth