BLOOD COAGULATION AND PLATELET ECONOMY IN SUBJECTS WITH PRIMARY GOUT

Abstract

Twenty-two male subjects with gout but with no clinical evidence of vascular disease were studied. Half of these had a negative family history for vascular disease and half had less fortunate ancestors. The most striking differences were found when gouty patients with a negative family history for vascular disease were compared with similar control subjects. The mean platelet half-life was 2.85 days in the gouty subjects and 3.74 days in the controls. The mean platelet turnover (number/cmm/day) was 58,750 in gouty subjects, 42,370 in controls. Platelet adhesiveness and plasma thromboplastic activity were correspondingly increased in the gouty subjects. Control subjects with a positive family history all showed relatively active clotting system and platelet turnover, similar to the values found in atherosclerotic subjects. The data indicated that there is increased platelet destruction and production in some patients with primary gout. The relation between this anomaly and the vascular disease, and disturbed urate metabolism in gouty subjects, remains to be investigated.