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Updated: May 18, 2026

Comprehensive Analysis of Procoagulant Platelets Exhibiting Features of Necrosis, Apoptosis and Platelet Activation
Published on: May 23, 2025
Biomarkers of platelet activation in acute coronary syndromes
Patrizia Ferroni1, Silvia Riondino, Natale Vazzana
1Department of Advanced Biotechnologies and Bioimaging, IRCCS San Raffaele Pisana, Rome, Italy.
Insights
Platelet activation in acute coronary syndromes (ACS) is linked to adverse events. Monitoring in vivo platelet activation offers potential clinical benefits for ACS patients.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Hematology
- Thrombosis Research
Background:
- Platelets play a key role in arterial thrombosis, particularly in acute coronary syndromes (ACS).
- Evidence links repeated platelet activation on vulnerable plaques to fatal coronary events.
- The correlation between in vivo platelet activation, clinical outcomes, and platelet function tests is not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current biomarkers for in vivo platelet activation in ACS.
- To discuss the advantages, disadvantages, and potential pitfalls of these biomarkers.
- To present emerging data on the clinical utility of monitoring in vivo platelet activation in ACS.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on platelet activation biomarkers in ACS.
- Analysis of advantages, disadvantages, and pre-analytical considerations for biomarkers.
- Evaluation of emerging clinical data regarding monitoring in vivo platelet activation.
Main Results:
- Current biomarkers for in vivo platelet activation in ACS have varying utility.
- Pre-analytical factors can significantly impact biomarker reliability.
- Emerging data suggest clinical value in monitoring platelet activation in ACS.
Conclusions:
- Understanding and monitoring in vivo platelet activation is crucial in managing ACS.
- Development of specific, reliable, and easily measurable biomarkers is needed.
- Monitoring platelet activation may improve clinical decision-making and patient outcomes in ACS.
Abstract:
The most convincing evidence for the participation of platelets in arterial thrombosis in humans comes from studies of platelet activation in patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) and from trials of antiplatelet drugs. Both strongly support the concept that repeated episodes of platelet activation over the thrombogenic surface of a vulnerable plaque may contribute to the risk of death from coronary causes. However, the relation of in vivo platelet activation and adverse clinical events to results of platelet function tests remains largely unknown. A valuable marker of in vivo platelet activation should be specific, unaltered by pre-analytical artefacts and reproducibly measured by easily performed methods. This article describes current biomarkers of platelet activation in ACS, reviews their advantages and disadvantages, discusses their potential pitfalls, and demonstrates emerging data supporting the positive clinical implications of monitoring in vivo platelet activation in the setting of ACS.
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