Contentrations of β-thromboglobulin (β-TG) and platelet factor 4 (PF-4) in platelet poor plasma were determined using radioimmunoassay in 97 healthy subjects and 307 hospitalized patients. In normal subjects, mean values (and SEM) of β-TG and PF-4 were 37±2 ng/ml and 8.3+1.5 ng/ml, respectively. Levels of β-TG increased with age. A statistically significant correlation between concentrations of β-TG and PF-4 was observed in 30 normal subjects (r=0.77, p<0.001). Levels of these protein increased in cases of DIC, acute deep vein thrombosis, acute myocardial infarction, acute cerebral infarction, transient ischemic attacks, diabetes mellitus with retinopathy or nephrotic syndrome, whereas these decreased in patients with aplastic anemia or acute leukemia. In a case of DIC with suppressed production of platelets in bone marrow, concentrations of β-TG and PF-4 remained within normal limits. There were few cases, in whom discrepancies between levels of β-TG and PF-4 were observed. Following oral administration of dipyridamole (300 mg daily), concentrations of β-TG and PF-4 decreased. From these results, it is concluded that elevation of β-TG ot PF-4 indicates hypercoagulable states.
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