Spontaneous platelet aggregation as a predictive risk factor for vascular occlusions in healthy volunteers? Results of the HAPARG Study

The HAPARG Study (haemostatic parameters as risk factors in healthy volunteers) was performed in a subset of volunteers taking part in the MARISK Study (Mainzer Risikoindikatoren Studie fur die koronare Herzkrankheit) sponsored by the German Ministry of Research and started in 1984. A previous study (Yamanishi et al., Thromb Haemostas 1985;54:539-543) had shown that spontaneously enhanced platelet aggregation as measured with the PAT-III-test and higher fibrinogen concentrations are significant risk factors for new vascular occlusions in diabetic patients. It was the aim of the HAPARG Study to establish whether spontaneous platelet aggregation and other hemostatic variables are independent …