PLATELET ACTIVATION DURING MYOCARDIAL-ISCHEMIA - A CONTRIBUTORY ARRHYTHMOGENIC MECHANISM

Experimental and clinical observations of the involvement of platelets in the pathophysiology of myocardial ischaemia indicate the importanc e of interactions between these formed elements and the heart. The aim of this review is to outline evidence linking platelet activation, my ocardial ischaemia and infarction, and to present evidence for a link between platelet activation, arrhythmogenesis and sudden death. A brie f review of platelet physiology and pharmacology is provided, with a r eview of the cardiac electrophysiological effects of ischaemia and the electrophysiological effects of platelet derived substances. The conc ept that platelet activation during myocardial ischaemia is a contribu tory arrhythmogenic mechanism is discussed. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevie r Science Inc.