Platelet turnover in stable coronary artery disease - influence of thrombopoietin and low-grade inflammation.

BACKGROUND: Newly formed platelets are associated with increased aggregation and adverse outcomes in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). The mechanisms involved in the regulation of platelet turnover in patients with CAD are largely unknown. AIM: To investigate associations between platelet turnover parameters, thrombopoietin and markers of low-grade inflammation in patients with stable CAD. Furthermore, to explore the relationship between platelet turnover parameters and type 2 diabetes, prior myocardial infarction, smoking, age, gender and renal insufficiency. METHODS: We studied 581 stable CAD patients. Platelet turnover parameters (immature platelet fraction, immature platelet count, mean platelet volume, platelet distribution width and platelet large cell-ratio) were determined using automated flow cytometry (Sysmex XE-2100). Furthermore, we measured thrombopoietin and evaluated low-grade inflammation by measurement of high-sensitive CRP and interleukin-6. RESULTS: We found strong associations between the immature platelet fraction, immature platelet count, mean platelet volume, platelet distribution width and platelet large cell ratio (r = 0.61-0.99, p<0.0001). Thrombopoietin levels were inversely related to all of the platelet turnover parameters (r = -0.17--0.25, p<0.0001). Moreover, thrombopoietin levels were significantly increased in patients with diabetes (p = 0.03) and in smokers (p = 0.003). Low-grade inflammation evaluated by high-sensitive CRP correlated significantly, yet weakly, with immature platelet count (r = 0.10, p = 0.03) and thrombopoietin (r = 0.16, p<0.001). Also interleukin-6 correlated with thrombopoietin (r = 0.10, p = 0.02). CONCLUSION: In stable CAD patients, thrombopoietin was inversely associated with platelet turnover parameters. Furthermore, thrombopoietin levels were increased in patients with diabetes and in smokers. However, low-grade inflammation did not seem to have a substantial impact on platelet turnover parameters

Immature platelets and cardiovascular events in patients with stable coronary artery disease

Many patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) have reduced the effect of aspirin, which may partly be explained by immature platelets. We aimed to investigate whether immature platelet markers can predict cardiovascular events in a large cohort of stable CAD patients. A total of 900 stable CAD patients were included and followed for a median of 3 years. We measured markers of immature platelets (platelet count, immature platelet count, immature platelet fraction, mean platelet volume, platelet distribution width, platelet mass, and thrombopoietin) using automated flow cytometry and studied their relation to cardiovascular events. Our primary endpoint was a composite of acute myocardial infarction (MI), ischemic stroke, and cardiovascular death. A composite of MI, ischemic stroke, stent thrombosis and all-cause mortality was analyzed as a secondary endpoint. We found no difference in immature platelet markers between CAD patients with or without cardiovascular events. Regression analysis using hazards rates showed that markers of immature platelets did not have any predictive value for endpoints (p-values >.05). Markers of immature platelets did not predict future cardiovascular events during a 3-year follow-up period in CAD patients. This suggests that immature platelets measured in a stable phase does not have a major role in predicting future cardiovascular events

Calprotectin and platelet aggregation in patients with stable coronary artery disease.

Recent studies suggest that the inflammation-associated protein calprotectin may be implicated in the pathogenesis of coronary artery disease (CAD). However, the impact of calprotectin levels on platelet aggregation in CAD patients has never been investigated.We investigated the association between calprotectin levels and platelet aggregation in stable, high-risk CAD patients receiving aspirin as mono antiplatelet therapy. Furthermore, we aimed to investigate independent clinical and laboratory determinants of calprotectin levels.We performed a cross-sectional study including 581 stable, high-risk CAD patients. All patients received 75 mg aspirin daily as mono antiplatelet therapy. Platelet aggregation was assessed by 1) impedance aggregometry (Multiplate Analyzer) using arachidonic acid (AA) and collagen as agonists and by 2) the VerifyNow Aspirin Assay. Low-grade inflammation was evaluated by calprotectin, high-sensitive C-reactive-protein (hs-CRP) and interleukin-6. Platelet activation was assessed by soluble P-selectin, and cyclooxygenase-1 inhibition was evaluated by serum thromboxane B2, both measured by ELISA.Calprotectin levels correlated positively with platelet aggregation according to Multiplate Analyzer (r=0.12, p=0.01). Additionally, calprotectin was positively associated with leukocytes (r=0.33, p<0.0001), hs-CRP (r=0.31, p<0.0001), interleukin-6 (r=0.28, p<0.0001), soluble P-selectin (r=0.10, p=0.02) and serum thromboxane B2 (r=0.10, p=0.02). Type 2 diabetes mellitus was an independent predictor of increased calprotectin levels (p=0.004), and trends were seen for body mass index (p=0.06) and smoking (p=0.07). Compliance with aspirin was confirmed by low serum thromboxane B2 levels in all patients (median [25%;75%]: 1.07 [0.52;1.87] ng/mL).Calprotectin levels correlated positively, though weakly, with platelet aggregation and activation as well as serum thromboxane B2 in high-risk, stable CAD patients treated with aspirin

Correlation analyses between platelet parameters, n = 581.

<p>IPF: Immature platelet fraction, IPC: Immature platelet count, MPV: Mean platelet volume.</p><p>PC: Platelet count, PDW: Platelet distribution width, P-LCR: Platelet large cell ratio.</p

Correlation between thrombopoietin and immature platelet fraction (Figure 1A) and mean platelet volume (Figure 1B).

<p>Correlation between thrombopoietin and immature platelet fraction (<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0085566#pone-0085566-g001" target="_blank">Figure 1A</a>) and mean platelet volume (<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0085566#pone-0085566-g001" target="_blank">Figure 1B</a>).</p

Determinants of reduced antiplatelet effect of aspirin in patients with stable coronary artery disease.

Aspirin is a cornerstone in management of coronary artery disease (CAD). However, considerable variability in the antiplatelet effect of aspirin has been reported.To investigate independent determinants of reduced antiplatelet effect of aspirin in stable CAD patients.We performed a cross-sectional study including 900 stable, high-risk CAD patients. Among these, 795 (88%) had prior myocardial infarction, 250 (28%) had type 2 diabetes, and 170 (19%) had both. All patients received 75 mg aspirin daily as mono antiplatelet therapy. The antiplatelet effect of aspirin was assessed by measurement of platelet aggregation employing 1) multiple electrode aggregometry (MEA, Multiplate Analyzer) in whole blood anticoagulated with citrate or hirudin using arachidonic acid (AA) or collagen as agonists, and 2) VerifyNow Aspirin Assay. Compliance was assessed by measurement of serum thromboxane B2.Platelet count, prior myocardial infarction, type 2 diabetes and body mass index were independent determinants of increased AA-induced MEA platelet aggregation in citrate and hirudin anticoagulated blood (p-values ≤ 0.045). Similar results were found with VerifyNow. Prior coronary artery bypass grafting, age, smoking (MEA, AA/citrate) and female gender (MEA, AA/hirudin) were also independent determinants of increased platelet aggregation (p-values ≤ 0.038). Compliance was confirmed by low serum thromboxane B2 levels in all patients (median [25%;75%]: 0.97 [0.52;1.97], range 0.02-26.44 ng/ml).Platelet count, prior myocardial infarction, type 2 diabetes and body mass index were independent determinants of increased platelet aggregation, indicating that these characteristics may be key factors in reduced antiplatelet effect of aspirin in stable CAD patients

Platelet parameters and clinical characteristics, n = 581.

<p>Data is presented as median (25th;75th percentile). Groups are compared using Mann-Whitney test.</p><p>p<0.05 in linear multivariate regression analyses adjusted for diabetes, prior MI, smoking, sex, age and eGFR.</p><p>p<0.10 in linear multivariate regression analyses adjusted for diabetes, prior MI, smoking, sex, age and eGFR.</p><p>MI: myocardial infarction, eGFR: estimated glomerular filtration rate.</p

Thrombopoietin and platelet aggregation in patients with stable coronary artery disease

Thrombopoietin (TPO) may facilitate platelet activation and aggregation. However, data on the impact of TPO on platelet aggregation in patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD) are scarce. We aimed to investigate associations between TPO and platelet aggregation and activation in patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD). We studied 900 stable CAD patients. Serum TPO was assessed by ELISA. Platelet aggregation was evaluated using the Multiplate Analyzer (agonists: arachidonic acid [AA] and collagen) and the VerifyNow Aspirin Assay. Platelet activation was evaluated by soluble (s)P-selectin. Cyclooxygenase-1 inhibition was evaluated by serum thromboxane B2 (TXB2). We found that TPO correlated weakly with platelet aggregation evaluated by Multiplate using AA (r = −0.09, p = 0.01) and collagen as agonists (r = −0.03, p = 0.43) and by VerifyNow (r = 0.07, p = 0.03). We found no correlation between TPO and sP-selectin (r = −0.01, p = 0.70). Independent predictors of AA-induced platelet aggregation by Multiplate included high levels of sP-selectin and serum TXB2, high platelet count, increasing age and body mass index, female sex, and active smoking. Independent predictors of TPO included low AA-induced platelet aggregation by Multiplate, high levels of hs-CRP, active smoking, and high platelet aggregation evaluated by VerifyNow. In conclusion, TPO levels did not correlate with platelet activation and only weak associations were found between TPO and platelet aggregation, suggesting that TPO did not substantially facilitate platelet aggregation in stable CAD patients