Platelet adhesion before and after venous occlusion: A comparison between normal subjects, patients with primary “carbohydrate-induced” hypertriglyceridemia and patients with arteriosclerotic vascular disease

Abstract On 10 patients with primary “carbohydrate-induced” hypertriglyceridemia (PCH), and 10 patients with atherosclerotic arterial diseases (AD) but without PCH, platelet adhesiveness was measured before and after venous congestion (as a thrombogenic state) in comparison with 10 normal subjects. Hellem's and Salzman's modified methods 23,44 were used in a combined way. Platelet counts in patients with PCH were significantly lower than in both other groups. This may be due to an increased platelet “fragility” in patients with PCH. In all three groups platelet adhesiveness after venous congestion was 2-fold higher than before. The cause of this phenomenon is discussed. In all three groups no significant difference in platelet adhesiveness was found either before or after venous congestion. The investigations were performed on venous blood, and no conclusion is possible on platelet properties in arteries.