Differences in the platelet proaggregatory activity of immune complexes isolated from patients with myocardial infarction or pulmonary cancer

Immune complexes were isolated immediately after the onset of the symptoms of myocardial infarction on an anti-Clq affinity column. The platelet proaggregatory effects of these immune complexes were compared with those isolated from patients suffering from pulmonary cancer. A markedly increased proaggregatory effect of immune complexes derived from patients with myocardial infarction and changes in the sensitivity of platelets from healthy volunteers to PGI(2) (prostacyclin) and PGD(2) were found. In contrast, immune complexes from patients with pulmonary cancer did not show any significant effect. The antigenic part of immune complexes is probably relevant in the induction of platelet aggregation.