PLATELET FUNCTION AND KALLIKREIN SYSTEM IN PATIENTS WITH ESSENTIAL HYPERTENSION

Since the pathogenesis of hypertension is still discussed the aim of this study was to investigate behaviour of platelets and kallikrein system in patients suffering from this disease. In 30 patients with essential hypertension, aged 23-31 years and 20 normotensive healthy subjects, aged 21-35 years the following parameters of platelet function were studied: platelet aggregation induced with ADP,platelet activating factor (PAF) and arachidonic acid (AA) according Born's method, plasma beta-thromboglobulin (Beta-TG) and platelet factor 4 (PF4) , plasma thromboxane B₂ (TXB₂) and cyclic AMP using radioimmunoassay kits. The activity of kallikrein and factor XII was also determined using Chromo-zym PK (Boehringer Mannheim GmbH). The hypertensive patients demonstrated a greater platelet aggregability by ADP and PAF, elevated concentrations of Beta-TG and TXB₂ as well as decreased level of cyclic AMP in comparison to normotensive subjects. No significantly changes in platelet aggregability by AA and activity of PF4 were found in the group of hypertensive patients. There were also significantly decreased plasma concentrations of kallikrein and factor XII in these patients. Obtained results have shown hyperfunction of blood platelets and depletion of kallikrein system in the patients with essential hypertension. These results suggest that among different pathogenic factors function of blood platelets and kallikrein system should be taken into consideration.