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Platelet Aggregability in Patients with a VVI Pacemaker
Author(s) -
FAZIO SERAFINO,
CITTADINI ANTONIO,
SABATINI DOMENICO,
SANTOMAURO MAURIZIO,
COCOZZA MANLIO,
OLIVIERO UGO,
CHIARIELLO MASSIMO,
SACCA LUIGI
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
pacing and clinical electrophysiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.686
H-Index - 101
eISSN - 1540-8159
pISSN - 0147-8389
DOI - 10.1111/j.1540-8159.1993.tb01572.x
Subject(s) - medicine , cardiology , platelet , platelet aggregation , intensive care medicine
Several studies have suggested an increased incidence of thromboembolic events in patients with VVI pacemaker (VVI patients); furthermore, other authors have demonstrated that a treatment with anticoagulants or antiplatelet drugs may be effective in reducing thromboembolic events, thus suggesting an increased formation of platelet thrombi in these patients. In this respect, platelet aggregability was investigated in ten VVI patients and ten age– and sex–matched subjects. β–thromboglobulin (β–Tg) and platelet factor 4 (PF4) plasma levels were determined as weJJ as platelet aggregation induced by ADP, collagen, epinephrine, and arachidonic acid. Plasma β–Tg JeveJs were increased in the patient group (86 ± 24 vs 24 ± 13 ng/mL; P < 0.001) in presence of normal PF4 values (14 ± 11 vs 13 ± 6 ng/mL; NS). Aggregation curves showed abnormal values of maximal amplitude, slope, and lag time. In particular, maximal amplitude was significantJy higher in VVI patients as compared with controls (ADP P < 0.01, collagen P < 0.001, adrenaline P < 0.01, arachidonic acid P < 0.05). These findings strongly suggest an increase of platelet activity in VVI patients.