Role of platelet activation and changes of platelet parameters in the pathogenesia of cerebral infarction

Objective To investigate the role of platelet activation and the changes of platelet parameters in the pathogenesis of cerebral infarction.Methods Platelet activation factor P-selectin (CD62p), lysosomal membrane protein53(CD63 )were detected by flow cytometry and the three parameters [platelet count (PLT), mean platelet volume (MPV)and maximum platelet aggregation rate (MAR)] were measured in 168 patients with cerebral infarction and 40 normal controls. Results (1) The positive rates of CD62p, CD63 and the levels of MPV, MAR in patients with cerebral infarction were significantly higher than those in control group (all P 0.01). Moreover these indexes in acute phase were higher than those in convalescence after cerebral infarction (all P 0.01). (2) The positive rates of CD62p, CD63 and the levels of MPV, MAR were obviously higher in total anterior circulation infarct (TACI ) subtype than that of in partial anterior circulation infarction (PACI), posterior circulation infarct (POCI) and Lacunar infarction (LACI) subtype (all P 0.01), those in PACI and POCI subtype were markedly higher than in LACI subtype ( P 0.01), but there was no significant difference between PACI and POCI subtype ( P 0.05). (3) No significant difference in PLT was found in all these groups or Oxfordshire Community Stroke Project (OCSP) subtypes(all P 0.05).(4) There was significant correlation between CD62p and CD63 ( P 0.01). The expression of CD62p and CD63 were closely associated with MPV or MAR (all P 0.01), but they were not correlated to the PLT (all P 0.05). Conclusions Patients with cerebral infarction show evidence of enhanced platelet activation and increasment of MPV and MAR,which may relate to the pathological process of cerebral infarction. Moreover MPV and MAR can reflect the clinical severity of cerebral infarction better than PLT. Anti-platelet aggregation treatment should be further taken in patients with cerebral infarction.