[Thrombogenic factors in the elderly. Evaluation of the plasma concentrations of thromboxane B2 and antithrombin III]

The aim of this study is to prove the existence of a major tendency of platelet aggregation in elderly patients compared to medium-aged adults and, also, to detect whether it is affected by the presence of diabetes mellitus. Plasmatic concentrations of B2 thromboxane (TXB2) and antithrombin III (AT III) were determined in 73 elderly patients of both sexes; 56 without metabolic disease known (Group a) and 17 diabetic patients, 7 type I (Group bI) and 10 of type II (Group bII); and 12 healthy adults (control group). Medium plasmatic concentration of TXB2 was significantly higher (p less than 0.001) in Group a (55 +/- 14 ng/ml) compared to the control group (37 +/- 9 ng/ml) and there was no difference between Group bI (53 +/- 19 ng/ml) and bII (57 +/- 15 ng/ml). No variations were noted in ATIII concentration between the adults (27.4 +/- 2.3 mg/dl) and elderly patients (a = 29.6 +/- 4.4, bI = 29 +/- 2.6, bII = 31.2 +/- 5.9 mg/dl). In elderly patients, there appears to be a state of platelet pro-aggregation without influence of any risk factor, such as diabetes. This could explain the thrombogenic tendency of this age group.