Abstract
Ratios of plasma levels of β-thromboglobulin to platelet factor 4 (β-TG/PF-4), which were regarded as a most reliable indicator of platelet activation in vivo, were followed in 52 subjects with essential hypertension at different stages of WHO classification (WHO I 30, WHO II 19, WHO III 3 cases) and in 20 age.matched normotensive controls, β-TG/ PF-4 ratios in hypertensive patients at WHO stage I (3.93+0.19), stage II (5.31±0.35) and stage III (6.56±0, 12) were significantly higher than those of normotensive controls (3.13±0.19). These results suggest that the platelet hyperfunction seen in hypertensive patients has an important role in the development of hypertensive vascular lesions. In another study, changes of blood pressure and β-TG/PF-4 ratios were compared in 19 subjects with essential hypertension at WHO I to II stage after 4 days of feeding with normal (12g/day of NaCI was used by cooking), slightly NaCI restricted (6g/day) or highly NaCI restricted (0g/day) diets Mean blood pressure was reduced by 7 mmHg after slightly NaCI restricted diet and by 22 mmHg after highly NaCI restricted diet. β-TG/PF-4 ratios after slightly and highly restricted NaCI diets were 4.27±0.39 and 4.04±0.22, respectively. These values were significantly higher than those of after normal NaCI diet (3.44±0.25). The reduction of NaCI intake induces an activation of platelets in vivo, while it brings about a significant reduction of blood pressure. These results indicate that it seems to be important to consider the change of platelet function induced by NaCI restriction, when we are going to treat the hypertensive patients with the reduced dietary NaCI intake.
