Association between arterial stiffness and platelet activation

Abstract

Increased arterial stiffness is strongly associated with atherosclerosis, while platelet activation is an important trigger of thrombotic events in patients with atherosclerosis. However, little is known about the effect of arterial stiffness on platelet activation. We therefore investigated the association between arterial stiffness and platelet activation in 38 normal volunteers (20 men and 18 women) aged 23-77 years (mean ¼ 49715 years). Arterial stiffness was assessed by measuring brachialankle pulse wave velocity (ba-PWV) and heart-brachial PWV (hb-PWV). Flow cytometric analyses were performed to evaluate platelet activation by measuring surface expression of P-selectin and platelet-neutrophil complexes (PNC) before and after activation by ADP. We also calculated the difference between basal and stimulated states of P-selectin and PNC to assess platelet activation reserve. PWVs were significantly correlated with age and BP (r ¼ 0.60-0.81). For platelet activation and activation reserve, correlations with age were less strong but remained significant (r ¼ 0.36-0.61), with the exception of P-selectin (not significant, NS), and correlations with SBP were similar (r ¼ 0.35-0.53). A significant correlation was found between PWVs and platelet activation (r ¼ 0. 43-0.74). Multiple regression analysis demonstrated significant correlations between platelet activation and reserve and PWVs (coefficient ¼ 2.17-6.59), when both age and BP were adjusted for simultaneously. In conclusion, platelet activation was associated with arterial stiffness, suggesting that arterial stiffness may play an important role in thrombotic events.

Elastic Properties of the Ascending Aorta in Patients with β‐Thalassemia Major

“…Release of growth factors by activated platelets may lead to vascular changes 20 . Yamasaki et al showed that platelet activation was related to increased arterial stiffness 21 . In our study, platelet count was significant determinant of stiffness index.…”

Associations between arterial stiffness and platelet activation in normotensive overweight and obese young adults

“…The present findings agree with those from at least three cross-sectional studies of individuals at low to moderate CVD risk, in which associations were found between several markers of in vivo platelet activation and both cfPWV(5) and baPWV(4,7). Though the present observational study cannot establish that arterial stiffening causes increased platelet activation, there are several potential mechanisms that may explain this prospective association.…”

“…Previous small cross-sectional studies of apparently healthy adults observed associations between increased platelet activation and increased carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV) (4,5), a measure of aortic stiffness and independent predictor of cardiovascular events (6). Other studies of apparently healthy adults have found associations between several markers of in vivo platelet activation and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV), a measure of mixed central (aortic) and peripheral arterial stiffness (4,7). Such cross-sectional associations may be explained by either the influence of activated platelets on the vasculature or the effect of vascular damage and dysfunction on circulating platelets.…”

Home-based resistance training improves arterial stiffness in healthy premenopausal women

“…Atherosclerosis is an essential process in the development of major cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (Yamasaki et al 2005). Atherosclerosis is one of the most important factors for the development of hypertension and leads to target organ damage and cardiovascular events (Thuillez and Richard 2005).…”