Clinical and functional correlates of platelet cyclic GMP in essential hypertensives

Carla Sala1, Marta Rescaldani, Erika Santin

  • 1Istituto di Medicina Cardiovascolare and Fondazione Policlinico di Milano, Milano, Italy. carla.sala@unimi.it

Insights

In essential hypertensives, lower platelet cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) is linked to higher risk of thrombotic events. High-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLc) positively predicts platelet cGMP, which inversely relates to aggregation response to epinephrine.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Research
  • Thrombosis and Hemostasis

Background:

  • Platelets are key in atherothrombosis, a major complication of hypertension.
  • Nitric oxide (NO) inhibits platelet aggregation through cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between platelet cGMP and clinical/hemodynamic factors in essential hypertensives (EHs).
  • To assess platelet cGMP's association with responses to aggregating agents.

Main Methods:

  • Assessed blood pressure, heart rate, and stroke volume in untreated EHs.
  • Measured platelet cGMP, plasma cGMP, ANP, renin, and aldosterone.
  • Evaluated platelet aggregation to epinephrine (EPI) and adenosine diphosphate (ADP).

Main Results:

  • Platelet cGMP was lower in males and smokers.
  • Platelet cGMP correlated with cigarette count, HDLc, aldosterone, and hemoglobin.
  • High-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLc) was the best predictor of platelet cGMP in multivariate analysis.
  • Platelet aggregation response to EPI, not ADP, was inversely related to platelet cGMP.

Conclusions:

  • Platelet cGMP in EHs is positively predicted by HDLc.
  • Lower platelet cGMP correlates with increased platelet aggregation to EPI.
  • A deficient platelet NO/cGMP system may identify EHs at higher risk for thrombotic events.
Abstract

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