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Thromb Haemost 1989; 62(02): 776-780
DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1646901
Original Article
Schattauer GmbH Stuttgart

Anti-Hypertensive Drugs Non-Specifically Reduce “Spontaneous” Activation of Blood Platelets

J Wilson
The University Department of Medicine, The General Infirmary, Leeds, UK
,
M A Orchard
The University Department of Medicine, The General Infirmary, Leeds, UK
,
A A Spencer
The University Department of Medicine, The General Infirmary, Leeds, UK
,
J A Davies
The University Department of Medicine, The General Infirmary, Leeds, UK
,
C R M Prentice
The University Department of Medicine, The General Infirmary, Leeds, UK
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Received 15 November 1988

Accepted after revision 12 May 1989

Publication Date:
30 June 2018 (online)

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Summary

Abnormal activation of blood platelets may be a contributory factor in the accelerated vascular disease which occurs in hypertension. We investigated the effects of lowering blood pressure in 12 patients with mild hypertension on several aspects of platelet function, initially in a placebo-controlled, double-blind, crossover study with nisoldipine, and subsequently in the same patients comparing nisoldipine with the patients’ usual anti-hypertensive therapy. Values were compared with those from an age, sex-matched control population. Seven hypertensive patients with renal failure were also studied. Administration of nisoldipine reduced ex vivo “spontaneous” aggregation of blood platelets significantly, and a similar significant effect was seen when blood pressure was lowered by the patients usual anti-hypertensive therapy. “Spontaneous” aggregation occurring in the control population was similar to that in the treated hypertensives. Blood platelet count, and aggregation in response to ADP and adrenalin were unaffected by treatment. Median plasma beta thromboglobulin levels were significantly higher in the untreated hypertensive patients (43 ng ml-1) than in the controls (30 ng ml-1), and there was a trend to reduced values for beta thromboglobulin on treatment of the hypertension. These results indicate that blood platelet activity is enhanced in hypertension and that function returns towards normal when blood pressure is lowered by treatment.

Keywords

“Spontaneous” platelet aggregation - Blood pressure - Beta-thromboglobulin - Nisoldipine
 

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