Is Beta-thromboglobulin a useful indicator of thrombosis in nephrotic syndrome?
In nephrotic Syndrome (NS), thrombotic episodes are common and this is thought to result from altered platelet function. In the present study we tried to correlate beta-thromboglobulin (TG) cone, with parameters of platelet function, - Patients and methods - In 26 pt. with NS platelet aggregat. test (PA) and TG were analysed before and after 2 weeks treatm. with ASA/Dipyridamole. None of the pat. had diseases with known platelet consumption or medication which interferes with platelets. - Results - Although, none of the pat. had clinically overt thrombosis (Doppler, phlebo-gr.) PA was increased in all pat.(PAT I and III, collagen/ADP ind. aggregate,, PF 4). There was an inverse correlat. between platelet abnormality and serum albumin cone, and a pos. correlat. with the elevation of cholesterol, TG cone, in NS did not differ signif. from control individ. without renal disease and from pat. with chron. glomerulonephr.(33.4±11.1 vs 33.9±9.7 vs 31.«±13.2 ng/ml). ASA/Dipyrid. did not change TG cone. - Conclusions - TC cone, in vivo do not reflect the degree of platelet abnorm, in vitro in pat. with NS. This finding may indicate that TG is not sensitive enough to monitor plat, abnorm, short of overt thromb. or else may indicate the fact, that TG is lost in the urine in NS.