FUNCTIONAL PLATELET CHARACTERISTICS IN PA TIENTS WITH ESSENTIAL-HYPERTENSION AND SILENT-MYOCARDIAL-ISCHEMIA

Functional platelet characteristics were studied in hypertensive subje cts having episodes of silent myocardial ischemia. A total of 36 patie nts with essential hypertension (EH) stage II (WHO criteria, 1979) und erwent echocardiography and 24-h1 ECG monitoring. Platelet aggregation induced by adenosine diphosphate was assessed by laser aggregation an alyzer. It is demonstrated that platelet aggregation in EH patients wi th silent ischemia was increased 5-fold as compared to healthy subject s and 2-fold versus EH patients without ischemia. No significant diffe rence existed between the two groups by such parameters as systolic or diastolic pressure and left ventricular myocardial mass, An involveme nt of elevated platelet aggregation can be suggested in tile genesis o f coronary insufficiency in EH associated with episodes of silent myoc ardial ischemia.