Objective: To study the platelet function in patients with chronic pulmonary heart disease.
Method: Subjects were divided into three groups (cor pulmonale exacerbation, cor pulmonale remission stage and normal control). Platelet adhesion rate (PAdT), platelet aggregation rate(PAgT), alpha-granule membrane protein (GMP-140) and glycoproteinII were measured by radioimmunoassay, flow cytometry and other methods.
Result: In cor pulmonale exacerbation, the values of PAdT, PAgT, GMP-140 and GPII were31% +/- 16%, 14% +/- 8%, 190 +/- 49 molecule/platelet and 145% +/- 36% respectively. In cor pulmonale remission stage, the values were 33% +/- 13%, 38% +/- 16%, 178 +/- 33 molecule/platelet and 137% +/- 48% respectively. These findings showed that the values of PAdT, GMP-140 and GPII in cor pulmonale exacerbation were markedly increased, whereas PAgT was significantly reduced. However, PAdT, PAgT, GMP-140 and GPII in remission stage were all higher than that of normal group.
Conclusion: In vivo platelet activation is indeed present in patients with chronic pulmonary heart disease.