A SIMPLE, WHOLE-BLOOD METHOD FOR ASSESSMENT OF PLATELET-FUNCTION - APPLICATION TO DIETARY INTERVENTION

The propensity to thrombosis in an individual or population represents a significant risk factor in coronary heart disease, that ultimately may result in acute myocardial infarction or unstable angina. A variet y of currently available tests assess the relative potential for plate lets to be activated and then aggregate, including agonist-dependent p latelet aggregation or flow cytometric analysis of platelet activation . However, all of these methods have certain limitations, ranging from being poorly quantifiable with limited sensitivity, to the necessity for specialized equipment. In the present study, we describe the devel opment of a simple whole blood, radiolabel assay that measures the sur face expression of the ct-granule protein, P-selectin, by activated pl atelets. This assay is performed in the presence of GP IIb-IIIa blocka de to allow quantitation without interference by platelet aggregate fo rmation, and thus directly measures agonist dose-response without comp lications arising from secondary activation mediated by GP IIb-IIIa, T he sensitivity of this assay method to dietary manipulation was invest igated by administration of fish oil capsules at a dose known to decre ase platelet aggregation. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd.