Lack of effect of exercise on platelet activation and platelet reactivity

The effects of brief maximal exertion on platelet activation and reactivity have been studied in normal subjects. Although initial studies in seven subjects showed apparent exercise-induced platelet activation and enhanced platelet reactivity, these findings could not be confirmed in 13 subjects studied subsequently. There was no change in the platelet aggregate ratio, platelet fluorescent granule number or the plasma platelet factor 4 (PF4) or beta-thromboglobulin, although transient and significant increases in the platelet count and plasma heparin neutralizing activity (HNA) occurred. These results were reproducible in subjects studied more than once. It is postulated that in vitro platelet activation, most likely associated with blood collection, explained the initial results. It is concluded from the subsequent studies that in normal subjects brief maximal exercise causes neither platelet activation nor altered platelet reactivity but does cause a transient increase in the platelet count. The increase in HNA with exertion, without any accompanying increase in the PF4, demonstrates that these assays measure different substances and that the increase in HNA following exertion is most unlikely to be derived from platelets.