Abstract
[Purpose] We studied platelet activation in patients with MRI-proven cerebral infarction at the acute (ACI) and chronic (CCI) stages, as well as in age-matched controls by a flow cytometric method using monoclonal antibodies against activation-related molecules.
[Methods] Twenty-six patients with ACI, 59 patients with CCI and 26 age-matched control subjects were enrolled in the study. Platelet activation was measured by flow cytometry using monoclonal antibodies against CD62P and platelet fibrinogen receptor (PAC-1), two molecules which are expressed on the platelet surface in association with activation.
[Results and Conclusion] CD62P-and PAC-1-positive platelets were significantly increased in patients with ACI and CCI as compared to the controls. The percentage of CD62P-positive platelets was significantly higher in patients with ACI than in those with CCI. Among the patients with CCI, platelets positive for CD62P and for PAC-1 were significantly increased in those with atherothrombotic cerebral infarction as compared to those with lacunar infarction. These findings suggest that different mechanisms of platelet activation exist in these stroke subtypes.
