The Quantitation of Platelet Aggregation Induced by Four Compounds: A Study in Relation to Myocardial Infarction

Abstract

Methods for measuring and comparing day to day differences in the response of platelet aggregation in platelet-rich plasma to added ADP, 5-H.T., adrenaline and collagen are reported. Platelet aggregation induced by ADP, 5-H.T. and adrenaline was studied in patients with acute myocardial infarction and in others 3 months to 5 years after an infarct; some were receiving anti-coagulants and others not: these three groups were compared with three control groups. The mean platelet shape was rounder and the response to ADP and to 5-H.T. and one parameter of the response to adrenaline was significantly greater in all groups of patients with myocardial infarct taken together than in the controls. The platelet-rich plasma from patients with recent infarction were most responsive to ADP and 5-H.T. immediately after the infarct. Anti-coagulants had no effect on these tests. However, there was wide variation within the individuals and much overlap between groups, and these tests can only reliably distinguish between groups and not between individuals. The significance of these findings is discussed.