Alterations of platelet, coagulation, and fibrinolysis markers in patients with acute ischemic stroke

Alterations of platelet, coagulation, and fibrinolysis markers were investigated to determine the indications for antithrombotic therapy in patients with different clinical categories of acute cerebral infarction. Marked platelet activation was observed in platelet function tests, including measurements of platelet-specific proteins and platelet survival, platelet scintigraphy in the brain, and platelet fibrinogen binding assay, in patients with atherothrombotic stroke. Among patients with atherothrombotic stroke, increases of thrombin-antithrombin III complex (TAT) and D-dimer were frequent in addition to the findings of platelet activation in patients showing progressing stroke. Patients with cardioembolic stroke demonstrated marked elevation of coagulation markers, TAT and fibrinopeptide A, and fibrinolysis markers, D-dimer and plasmin-alpha(2)-plasmin inhibitor complex, as well as platelet activation. In contrast, neither activation was seen in patients with lacunar stroke. On the basis of these findings, antiplatelet therapy is indicated for stable or improving stroke, whereas anticoagulant therapy is indicated for progressing stroke among patients with atherothrombotic stroke. In patients with cardioembolic stroke, anticoagulant therapy should be started as soon as possible, or should be followed by thrombolytic therapy in the hyperacute phase. However, further investigation appears necessary for recommendations for patients with lacunar stroke.