Beta-thromboglobulin in cerebral infarction.

Abstract

Plasma beta-thromboglobulin (BTG) was significantly elevated in the acute phase of 116 atherosclerotic thrombotic (p < 0 .cntdot. 0001) and 36 cardioembolic (p < 0 .cntdot. 005) infarcts but normal for 96 lacunes compared with controls. This elevation persisted into the 6th week after the acute event. Among atherosclerotic thrombotic infarcts, the acute beta-thromboglobulin level showed a tendency to correlate with infarct size on CT and predicted mortality at 6 weeks. These results suggest that platelet aggregation plays a primary role in the pathogenesis of atherothrombosis.