Platelet function and survival in patients with severe hypercholesterolemia

Abstract

Platelet aggregation and survival were measured in twelve subjects with severe hypercholesterolemia. There was a small increase in sensitivity to epinephrine and adenosine diphosphate among the most hypercholesterolemic patients, but this did not correlate with reduced platelet lifespan. Platelet survival was normal or only moderately reduced in the markedly hypercholesterolemic homozygous subjects. However, the incidence of reduced platelet survival was significantly increased (p<0.05) among the older patients with more extensive atherosclerotic vascular disease compared to the younger patients with limited vascular disease. Marked hypercholesterolemia in the absence of atherosclerosis does not appear to accelerate platelet destruction, although a modest increased aggregability is present.