Abstract
Platelet aggregation was measured by the turbidometric method in arteriosclerosis and the data ware compared with those of healthy subjects. The subjects were 90 healthy volunteers and 26 arteriosclerotic patients including angina pectoris, myocardial infarction and cerebral infarction in the stable state. In healthy volunteers their median age was 33 years with a range form 21 to 85 years and the median of the arteriosclerotic patients was 64 years with a range from 47 to 84 years. The aggregation agents employed was ADP in a final concentration of 2.9×10^<-6> M and aggregation parameter was expressed by maximum aggregation rate. Thromboxane B_2, 6-keto-PGF_<1α>, serum total cholesterol, triglyceride, high density lipoprotein and atherogenic index were also measured. Platelet aggregation was increased in arteriosclerosis compared to normal subjects (p<0.001). Platelet aggregation in cerebral infarction was higher than the other arteriosclerotic groups. In both normal and arteriosclerosis groups a positive correlation was found between intensity of platelet aggregation and Thromboxan B_2/6-keto-PGF_<1α> ratio (r=0.68, P<0.05). But there was no significant correlation of platelet aggregation to serum total cholesterol, triglyceride, high density lipoprotein and atherogenic index. To sum up above findings, platelet aggregation is considered to indirectly reflect levels of prostaglandin metbolism in vivo.
