CKD Effects on Platelets: Implications for Cardiovascular Risk

Platelets are crucial to prevent and stop bleeding, a process referred to as hemostasis. They do so by adhering to the damaged vascular wall, triggering platelet activation and the subsequent growth of a thrombus through an increasing accumulation of platelets and thrombin-generated fibrin. Platelets, however, also contribute to the occurrence of cardiovascular events by stimulating the formation and progression of atherosclerotic lesions and through their crucial involvement in the formation of thrombi triggered by vascular dysfunction, atherosclerotic plaque rupture, or plaque erosion.