The relationship between carotid atherosclerosis and platelet aggregation in elderly

The aim of this study is to assess the relationship between the carotid wall intima media thickness (IMT) and atheroma plaques due to atherosclerosis and platelet aggregation among elderly. The first stage of the study was performed by analyzing platelet aggregation in a total of 28 elderly patients divided into two groups. The first group consisted of 14 cases with carotid atheroma plaque (Patient group I) and the second group of patients were without carotid atheroma plaque (Control group I). At the second stage of the study, the cases were regrouped according to the carotid IMT. Patients with IMT above 1 mm (Patient froup II, n = 10) and under 1 mm (Control group II, n = 14) were compared regarding platelet aggregation. Platelet aggregation was induced in the platelet-rich plasma using 5 PM ADP, 0.2 mg/ml collagen and 1.2 mg/ml ristocetin. Between patients with and without atheroma, no difference was noted in terms of platelet aggregation. Between platelet aggregation results of patients with intimal thickness above and under 1 mm, no significant difference was also noted. Between elderly cases with or without atherosclerosis, there was no difference with respect to platelet aggregation. Platelet aggregation measurements cannot be used as a marker of atherosclerosis in elderly population. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.