Usefulness of the Measurement of Plasma /3-Thromboglobulin (/3-TG) in Cerebrovascular Disease

The plasma concentration of the platelet-specific protein /3-thromboglobulin (/8-TG) was measured in 39 normal subjects and 568 patients of neurological diseases. The /3-TG RIA commercially available KIT was also evaluated. Abnormally high plasma levels of /3-TG were demonstrated in groups of ischemic or obstructive cerebrovascular diseases as compared with that of normal subjects. The highest concentrations were found in 8 patients with Moya-Moya disease, (mean concentration of/8TG was 204.4 ng/ml), completed stroke at an acute stage was next (mean /8-TG level was 194.8 ± 70.8 ng/ ml). On the other hand, many hemorrhagic cerebro-vascular diseases or other neurological diseases such as brain tumors, hydrocephalus, etc. do not show elevated /8-TG levels. In many patients with ischemic or obstructive cerebro-vascular diseases treated with anti-platelet drugs such as Aspirin, Dipyridamole, Bencyclane or Ticlopidine, a significant fall in plasma concentration of /3TG was chronologically demonstrated. The measurement of plasma /3-TG concentration may be useful not only in the diagnosis of ischemic or obstructive cerebro-vascular disorders but also in judging the efficacy of anti-platelet therapies and prognosis. Stroke Vol 14, No 4, 1983