Milne AA, Adam DJ, Murphy WG, Ruckley CV. Effects of asymptomatic abdominal aortic aneurysm on the soluble coagulation system, platelet count and platelet activation.
Eur J Vasc Endovasc Surg 1999;
17:434-7. [PMID:
10329529 DOI:
10.1053/ejvs.1998.0790]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES
the aim of the study was to determine the effects of infrarenal asymptomatic abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) on platelet count and activation.
DESIGN
prospective clinical study in a University Department of Vascular Surgery.
PATIENTS
one hundred and five patients with AAA. Thirty-two control patients with symptomatic carotid artery stenoses.
METHODS
platelet count (PC), plasma glycocalicin levels, prothrombin ratio (PTR), activated partial thromboplastin time (APPT), fibrinogen and D-dimer were measured in 23 patients with AAA and 16 control patients with symptomatic carotid artery stenoses. PC alone was measured in a further 84 patients with AAA and 16 with carotid artery stenoses.
RESULTS
PC was below the normal range in 8/105 patients and mean PC (215x10(9)/l, S.D. 47.5) was significantly lower than that of a control population (242x10(9)/l, S.D. 16.8) and patients with carotid disease (269x10(9)/l, S.D. 57). Glycocalicin level was above the normal range in 7/23 patients and the median level (28 fg/plt) was significantly higher than that of a normal population (21.6 fg/plt) and patients with carotid disease (12.3 fg/plt). Fibrinogen levels, PTR and APPT were all within the normal range. One patient had a minimally elevated level of D-dimer.
CONCLUSIONS
the combination of low PC and high glycocalicin levels suggests that there is increased platelet destruction, most likely due to activation within the aneurysm sac.
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