Whole blood aggregation, thromboxane release and the lyso derivative of platelet activating factor in myocardial infarction and unstable angina

To investigate the pathophysiology of intracoronary thrombus formation we measured whole blood aggregation in response to ADP, platelet activating factor (PAF) and collagen, along with thromboxane B2 (TXB2) production during collagen induced aggregation, plasma TXB2 and plasma levels of lyso-PAF, in 38 subjects with and without ischaemic heart disease (12 with acute myocardial infarction, 9 with prolonged ischaemic chest pain without infarction and 17 normals). Lyso-PAF was measured, after in vitro acetylation to active PAF, by bioassay using 14C-serotonin labelled rabbit platelets. TXB2 was measured by radioimmunoassay. Plasma TXB2 was elevated at presentation only in patients with myocardial infarction (p less than 0.01). While impedance aggregation was similar in the three groups, aggregation to collagen resulted in greater release of TXB2 in subjects with myocardial infarction (p less than 0.01), an abnormality persisting 2-4 months later. Plasma lyso-PAF levels were significantly depressed throughout the first week in subjects with infarction (p less than 0.002), but after 2 to 4 months the level was greater than in normal subjects (p less than 0.001), changes presently unexplained. It is possible that the disorder of platelet function preceded and predisposed to coronary thrombosis. The findings strengthen the grounds for aspirin therapy in acute myocardial infarction.