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Circulating reticulated platelets in the early and late phases after ischaemic stroke and transient ischaemic attack
Author(s) -
McCabe Dominick J. H.,
Harrison Paul,
Sidhu Paul S.,
Brown Martin M.,
Machin Samuel J.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
british journal of haematology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.907
H-Index - 186
eISSN - 1365-2141
pISSN - 0007-1048
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2141.2004.05137.x
Subject(s) - medicine , platelet , aspirin , ischaemic stroke , mean platelet volume , stroke (engine) , cardiology , platelet activation , gastroenterology , ischemia , mechanical engineering , engineering
Summary The percentage of reticulated platelets (% RP) could be a useful marker of increased platelet production and/or turnover in patients with increased platelet activation, but few flow cytometric studies have measured the % RP in patients with ischaemic cerebrovascular disease (CVD). Whole blood flow cytometry using thiazole orange was performed to compare the % RP in patients in the early (1–27 d, n = 79) and late phases (79–725 d, n = 70) after ischaemic stroke or transient ischaemic attack (TIA) with controls without CVD ( n = 27). The impact of aspirin dose escalation (75–300 mg/d) on the % RP was investigated in 10 patients in the late phase after stroke/TIA. The platelet count and mean platelet volume (MPV) were similar in CVD patients and controls. Compared with controls, the unadjusted % RP was not significantly higher in early or late phase CVD patients ( P ≤ 0·3). However, having adjusted for age, the % RP was higher in early ( P = 0·047) and late phase CVD patients ( P = 0·01). There was a positive correlation between % RP and MPV in EDTA‐ and citrate‐anticoagulated blood in both early and late phase CVD patients ( P ≤ 0·01). The % RP was not significantly influenced by aspirin dose. These data do not convincingly support an excessive stimulus to platelet production in the early or late phases after ischaemic stroke/TIA, but are consistent with the hypothesis that reticulated platelets are larger than more mature ‘non‐reticulated’ platelets in ischaemic CVD.