Platelet lipid peroxides as determinant of platelet survival and sympathetic stimulation in patients with hypertension

Abstract The platelet lipid peroxidation technique was used to determine platelet survival time in 10 patients with uncomplicated essential hypertension and 10 age-matched normotensive and healthy subjects. Mean platelet survival time was 7.3 ± 0.65 days in the hypertensive group and 9.6 ± 0.82 days in the normotensive group ( P However, shortened survival time was observed in four hypertensive and in two normotensive subjects. It is possible that the significant decrease in survival time found in the hypertensive group might reflect more advanced atherosclerotic vascular changes than in the normotensive group. Posture change affects lipid peroxides, probably via the catecholamines.