Thromboxane formation by platelets and platelet sensitivity to prostacyclin in patients with acute myocardial infarction

Platelet Function and Coagulation in Secondary Prevention of Ischemic Heart Disease

The possibility of secondary prevention. of myocardial infarction using drugs as anticoagulants and platelet antiaggregants attracted much attention in the last few years. Results obtained with anticoagulants until now, however, did not always correspond to expectations and were quite contradictory although recent studies show that such treatment is quite effective1 and also that the overall incidence of brain injuries following prolonged anticoagulant treatment does not increase: in fact a certain increase of brain haemorrhages is counterbalanced by a decrease of thrombotic events2.

CD40 ligand and MCP-1 as predictors of cardiovascular events in diabetic patients with stroke.

Aim: Up-regulation of soluble CD40 ligand (sCD40L) and of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) has been found in diabetes and in patients with acute cerebral ischemia. We asked whether (i) the two molecules are similarly upregulated among non-lacunar and lacunar diabetic strokes and (ii) sCD40L and/or MCP-1 predict the risk of cardiovascular events in this setting.Methods: Ninety patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus presenting with an acute ischemic stroke (compared with 45 control subjects) were evaluated on admission and up to 36 months (median 24 months) after the event.Results: Diabetic patients with acute stroke had higher plasma CD40L and MCP-1 than controls (p<0.0001), wit…

Enhanced lipid peroxidation and platelet activation as potential contributors to increased cardiovascular risk in the low-HDL phenotype

Background Low high‐density lipoprotein ( HDL ) levels are major predictors of cardiovascular ( CV ) events, even in patients on statin treatment with low‐density lipoprotein ( LDL ) at target. In animal models HDL s protect LDL from oxidation and blunt platelet activation. Our study aimed to examine whether HDL levels are related to in vivo oxidative stress and platelet activation, as determinants of atherothrombosis. Methods and Results Urinary 8‐iso‐PGF 2α and 11‐dehydro‐TXB 2 , in vivo markers of oxidative stress and platelet activation, respectively, were measured in 65 coronary heart disease (CHD) normocholesterolemic patients with HDL ≤35 mg/ dL , and in 47 CHD patients with HDL &gt…

Thromboxane biosynthesis, neutrophil and coagulative activation in type IIa hypercholesterolemia

SummaryThromboxane (Tx) A2 biosynthesis is enhanced in the majority of patients with type IIa hypercholesterolemia. Because blood clotting activation is an important component of the inflammatory response, involved in the initiation and progression of atherosclerotic plaques, we have investigated TxA2 biosynthesis, neutrophil activation and thrombin generation in 24 patients with type IIa hypercholesterolemia.Urinary 11-dehydro-TxB2, was significantly higher (p =0.0001) in patients than in 24 sex- and age matched healthy subjects. Similarly, prothrombin fragment 1+2 (F1+2), thrombin-antithrombin III complexes and plasma elastase were significantly higher in patients than incontrols. Urinary…