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Mental-stress-induced platelet activation among patients with coronary artery disease

Graham J Reid1, Peter H Seidelin, Willem J Kop

  • 1Department of Psychology, University of Western Ontario, Westminster Hall, London ON N6A 3K7, Canada. greid@uwo.ca

Psychosomatic Medicine
|March 3, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Mental stress activates platelets in coronary artery disease (CAD) patients, potentially explaining how psychosocial factors influence cardiac outcomes. This study investigated platelet activation in CAD patients undergoing angioplasty.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Psychosomatic Medicine
  • Hematology

Background:

  • Psychosocial factors are linked to coronary artery disease (CAD) and poor cardiac outcomes.
  • The precise mechanisms connecting psychosocial factors to adverse cardiac events remain unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate platelet activation in response to mental stress among patients with CAD.
  • To explore platelet activation as a potential mediator between psychosocial factors and cardiac outcomes.

Main Methods:

  • Examined platelet activation markers (CD41, CD62P) and reactivity using flow cytometry and beta-thromboglobulin assays.
  • Inducted mental stress through mental arithmetic and anger recall in 249 CAD patients scheduled for percutaneous coronary intervention.

Main Results:

  • Experimentally induced mental stress significantly increased platelet activation (CD41, CD62P expression).
  • No significant relationship was found between the degree of platelet reactivity and demographic, clinical, psychological, or hemodynamic variables.

Conclusions:

  • Mental stress demonstrably activates platelets in patients with CAD.
  • Platelet activation may serve as a partial mechanism linking psychosocial variables to adverse cardiac outcomes in CAD patients.
Abstract

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