Enhanced Platelet Aggregation And Arachidonic Acid Metabolism Associated To Reduced Sensitivity To Exogenous Prostacyclin In Hypercholesterolemic Subjects
The platelet sensitivity to aggregating agents and the production of arachidonic acid (AA) metabolites were studied in 97 hypercholesterolemic patients (WHO types IIA and IIB;serum cholesterol levels >250 mg/dl, LDL>170 mg/dl,triglycerides >180 mg/dl). The findings were compared with those of 55 age and sex matched normocholesterolemic subjects.Platelet aggregation was studied in platelet rich plasma (PRP) with ADP, collagen, epinephrine and thrombofax* as aggregating agents. Malondialdehyde (MDA) production was determined according to Smith et al.. Thromboxane B2 (TXB2) was measured in washed platelets stimulated with AA by a specific RIA. The platelet sensitivity to the inhibitory effect of synthetic prostacyclin (PGI2) was also assessed in 40 of the patients and in 20 age and sex matched control subjects, using fixed concentrations of aggregating agents.Platelets from patients required to aggregate significantly lower concentrations of collagen, epinephrine and thrombofax* (p< 0.001) and of ADP ( p<O.05); MDA production by thrombin and collagen and TXB formation were significantly raised (p<0.001) in the patient group. Higher concentrations of PGI2 were required to inhibit the aggregation of platelets in the type II patients.The reported findings confirm in a large clinical series the potential role of platelet hyperreactivity in the thrombotic risk of type II hypercholesterolemia.