Soluble P-selectin as a marker of platelet hyperactivity in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

A comparative analysis between soluble (s) P-selectin and von Willebrand Fa ctor (vWF) was performed in 40 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and 20 healthy subjects, with the aim of investigating wheth er the occurrence of elevated levels of sP-selectin may reflect activation of platelets, endothelial cells, or both. Plasma sP-selectin levels were si gnificantly higher in patients compared to controls (P<0.01), Similarly vWF levels were elevated in patients compared to healthy subjects, although th e difference did not reach statistical significance. Lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a) ] levels were Lower in COPD patients than controls (P<0.0001). The analysis of the correlation among all the variables demonstrated that plasma sP-sel ectin did not correlate with vWF. Conversely, plasma sP-selectin levels sig nificantly correlated with either oxygen (rho=-0.41, P<0.05) or carbon diox ide (rho=0.47, P<0.05) tension. An inverse correlation between serum Lp(a) and plasma sl-selectin levels (rho=-0.35, P<0.05) was also observed. Moreov er, increasing levels of sP-selectin in COPD patients significantly correla ted with the impairment of blood gas tensions. In conclusion, the results o btained indicate the prominent platelet origin of circulating sl-selectin, suggesting that sP-selectin might be considered a marker of in vivo platele t activation in patients with COPD.