Platelet and Red Blood Cell Counts, as well as the Concentrations of Uric Acid, but Not Homocysteinaemia or Oxidative Stress, Contribute Mostly to Platelet Reactivity in Older Adults

PURPOSE: The goal of this study was to estimate the hierarchical contribution of the most commonly recognized cardiovascular risk factors associated with atherogenesis to activation and reactivity of blood platelets in a group of men and women at ages 60-65. METHODS: Socioeconomic and anthropometric data were taken from questionnaires. Blood morphology and biochemistry were measured with standard diagnostic methods. Plasma serum homocysteine was measured by immunochemical method. Plasma concentrations of VCAM, ICAM, total antioxidant status, and total oxidant status were estimated with commercial ELISA kits. Markers of oxidative stress of plasma and platelet proteins (concentrations of protein free thiol and amino groups) and lipids (concentrations of lipid peroxides) and generation of superoxide anion by platelets were measured with colorimetric methods. Platelet reactivity was estimated by impedance aggregometry with arachidonate, collagen, and ADP as agonists. Expression of selectin-P and GPIIb/IIIa on blood platelets was tested by flow cytometry. RESULTS: Platelet aggregation associated significantly negatively with HGB and age and significantly positively with PLT, MPV, PCT, PDW, and P-LCR. When platelet reactivity (“cumulative platelet reactivity_aggregation”) was analyzed in a cumulated manner, the negative association with serum concentration of uric acid (R(s) = −0.169, p = 0.003) was confirmed. Multivariate analysis revealed that amongst blood morphological parameters, platelet count, plateletcrit, and number of large platelets and uric acid are the most predictive variables for platelet reactivity. CONCLUSIONS: The most significant contributors to platelet reactivity in older subjects are platelet morphology, plasma uricaemia, and erythrocyte morphology.