Platelet aggregation in hypertension and the effects of antihypertensive treatment

The major findings of a review of the literature on platelet aggregation in hypertensive human subjects and the effects of antihypertensive agents were as follows: (1) There is an increased platelet aggregatory response to epinephrine and ADP in hypertensives with MAP greater than 120 mmHg. (2) Treatment with propranolol decreases the aggregatory response to ADP, but it may enhance the response to epinephrine. (3) Treatment with calcium blockers in normotensives decreases the aggregatory response to epinephrine. Further work needs to be done to answer the questions raised by this review. Since the major goal, yet unachieved, of antihypertensive therapy is reduction of the incidence of CHD, the anti-thrombotic or thrombotic potential of antihypertensive agents must be known. Future clinical trials of drug therapy for hypertension should be designed to include at least a determination of platelet aggregation in response to both ADP and epinephrine.