Platelets play a crucial role in the pathophysiology of atherothrombotic disease and are involved in the early thromboembolic phase of ischaemic stroke. Large platelets are known to be more active. We hypothesized that thrombomegaly would be limited to patients with cortical infarction as compared with patients with lacunar infarcts, and that it would be associated with functional outcome. Mean platelet volume (MPV) and platelet count (PC) were studied in 167 hospitalized patients with stroke within 48 h of symptom onset, and 65 age, gender and race matched controls. Stroke was clinically and radiologically sub-typed. MPV was significantly higher in patients with ischaemic stroke than the control group: mean (SD) 7.35 (1.05) vs 7.09 (0.74) fl, 2 P = 0.04; this difference could be explained by MPV being higher in patients with cortical stroke: 7.46 (1.00) fl, 2 P = 0.039, but not lacunar infarction: 7.14 (1.16) fl, 2 P = 1.0. No difference was seen in PC between ischaemic patients and controls: 231 (82) 10(9)/l vs 236 (54) 10(9)/l, 2 P = 0.63. MPV did not change at 3 months post-stroke in surviving patients with ischaemic stroke: 7.39 (1.03) fl vs 7.34 (0.97) fl, 2 P = 0.53. Patients who were dead or dependent at 3 months had a significantly higher baseline MPV and a tendency to a lower PC than those who returned to independence. MPV and PC were not altered in patients with primary intracerebral haemorrhage. No differences in red cell volume was observed. Platelet volume is elevated in acute ischaemic stroke, a finding that persists at 3 months post-stroke and is limited to patients with cortical infarction. Thrombomegaly is a risk factor for a poor outcome after ischaemic stroke.
SUMMARY. The clinical significance of serum S-lOO protein, a protein released by damaged brain tissue, was assessed in patients with acute ischaemic or haemorrhagic stroke and matched controls. Serum S-100 protein concentration was significantly elevated in patients with ischaemic stroke [median (SQR): 0·27 (0'09) J-lg/L, n = 68] and haemorrhagic stroke [0-43 (0'23) J-lg/L, n = 13] compared to controls [0,11 (0'03)J-lg/L, n=51, P
Although ischaemic stroke is associated with accentuated platelet function, it remains unclear whether this applies to all sub-types, especially lacunar infarcts, which differ from cortical infarction in their patho-aetiology. Similarly, conflicting evidence suggests that haemorrhagic stroke may, or may not, be associated with a hypothrombotic state. Levels of von Willebrand factor (vWF), fibrinogen, and P-selectin were measured within 48 h of ictus in 163 patients with acute ischaemic stroke and 40 patients with acute primary intracerebral haemorrhage, and 33 age, gender and race matched-controls. vW F (IU/dl) was significantly increased in both cortical and lacunar ischaemic stroke, and haemorrhagic stroke, as compared with controls, median (semiquartile range): 158 (25) vs 144 (19) vs 147 (24) vs 114 (16), respectively. Similarly, fibrinogen (g/litre) was increased: 4.80 (0.90) vs 4.65 (0.70) vs 4.35 (0.83) vs 3.70 (0.70). In contrast, soluble P-selectin (ng/ml) was increased in cortical stroke as compared with lacunar infraction patients or controls: 408 (101) vs 300 (108) vs 324 (121), respectively; P-selectin was not increased in haemorrhagic stroke, 360 (153). Both vW F and fibrinogen correlated with 3-month functional outcome (modified Rankin score): r = 0.371 (2 P = 0.0006), and r = 0.195 (2 P = 0.042), respectively; however, P-selectin was not associated with outcome: r = 0.188 (2 P = 0.084). The results suggest that increases in vW F and fibrinogen in all types of stroke reflect an acute phase response; in contrast, increased soluble P-selectin levels in cortical stroke, but not lacunar infarction, suggest that platelets contribute to the patho-aetiology of some subtypes of ischaemic stroke.
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