Plasma levels of soluble glycoprotein VI (sGPVI) are associated with ischemic stroke

Platelet collagen receptor glycoprotein VI (pGPVI) is elevated in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and ischemic stroke. Recently, we developed a novel bead-based sandwich immunoassay to determine soluble GPVI (sGPVI), which has been validated in ACS patients. This study aimed to evaluate the plasma levels of sGPVI and pGPVI expression in patients with suspected stroke. We consecutively evaluated 176 patients, who were admitted to the stroke unit. Surface expression of pGPVI was determined by flow cytometry, sGPVI concentrations were determined using our sandwich immunoassay. Unlike patients with TIA, patients with stroke showed significantly decreased plasma levels of sGPVI compared to patients with non-ischemic (NI) events (TIA: mean [µg/L] ± standard deviation): 6.1 ± 2.1 vs. NI: 8 ± 4; p = 0.192; stroke: 5.9 ± 2.3 vs. NI; p = 0.013), whereas for pGPVI, patients with TIA and ischemic stroke revealed a significantly increased platelet surface expression compared to NI patients (TIA: mean fluor...