Daily variations in platelet aggregation and adhesion in healthy subjects

Platelet aggregation is known to show a morning rise. The present study was undertaken to examine whether platelet aggregation and adhesion show a peak in the afternoon. Platelet aggregation stimulated by 4 microM of adenosine diphosphate, 1 micrograms/ml of collagen, 4 microM of epinephrine and 0.5 mM of arachidonic acid, and platelet adhesion determined by platelet retention on a glass bead column were measured for a period of 28-hour with an interval of 4 hours in 6 healthy subjects. Platelet aggregation in response to 4 different aggregating agents showed a bimodal daily variation with peaks in the morning and in the afternoon. However platelet adhesion only showed a peak in the morning. Previous studies have demonstrated the increases in the onset of acute myocardial infarction (MI) in the morning and afternoon periods. As enhanced platelet aggregation is involved in the development of acute MI, the present study suggests that the rise in platelet aggregation contributes to the increase in acute MI in the morning and in the afternoon. The present study suggests that the enhancement of platelet adhesion, which might be involved in thromboembolic events, may be another triggering factor for the onset of acute MI.