Abstract
It is well recognized that increased platelet stickness and aggregation are the major causes of thrombosis at the sclerotic intima of the arteries. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the platelet consumption in patients with the ischemic heart disease, especially with myocardial infarction, by measuring the plasma Beta-thromboglobulin (Beta-TG).
MATERIALS AND METHOD: Control group, 29 healthy young adults (19 males, mean 25.1yrs and 10 females, mean 21.2yrs) and 11 middle aged men (mean 36.8yrs) are volunteers who have no atherosclerotic change. Patient group consists of myocardial infarction (23 males, mean 59.3yrs and 3 females, mean 60.3yrs) and angina pectoris (8 males, mean 51.6yrs and 3 females, mean 64.7yrs). The plasma Beta-TG were measured with the RIA kit® (Radiochemical Centre, Amersham, England). In cases with myocardial infarction, the Beta-TG measurements were performed during the three periods. Coronary angiography (CAG) was performed in the 21 patients (11 myocardial infarction and 10 angina pectoris). Twenty one cases were divided into 4 groups according to the severity of stenosis.
RESULTS: The Beta-TG levels in each group were as follows, a) Control: 29.6±18.7ng/ml. b) myocardial infarction: 74.4±43.0ng/ml (during 0-2 days), 34.4±21.0ng/ml (during 3-30 days) and 51.0±26.5ng/ml (after 30 days), respectively. The mean levels during the acute phase (0-2 days) and the chronic phase (after 30 days) were significantly higher than the control (P<0.01) (Fig. 1 and 2).
The Beta-TG level in angina pectoris group (without recent attack) was 30.6±12.4ng/ml which was not significantly different from the control. The 17 patients without aspirin administration were classified in 4 groups depending on the number of the stenosed coronary arteries. Their Beta-TG levels were as follows: P. C. 28.5±8.9ng/ml, S. V. D. 48.8±19.8ng/ml, D. V. D. 58.2±14.8ng/ml and T. V. D. 53.7±22.4ng/ml. Four cases with stenosis had been administered aspirin. The Beta-TG levels of these 4 cases were 22.9±5.4ng/ml which was not significantly different from the control.
