Platelet GP IIIa Pl and GP Ib Variable Number Tandem Repeat Polymorphisms and Markers of Platelet Activation in Acute Stroke

A number of polymorphisms of the platelet glycoprotein (GP) Ib-V-IX and IIb/IIIa complexes have been described, and the Pl polymorphism of GP IIIa has been associated with coronary thrombosis. We determined the levels of b-thromboglobulin (b-TG) and platelet factor 4 (PF4) and the genotype distributions of Pl and a variable number tandem repeat (VNTR) polymorphism of GP 1b in subjects with acute stroke (n5609) and healthy control subjects (n5435). Levels of b-TG were higher in patients both initially (47.4 [44.7 to 50.2] ng/mL, P,0.0001) and after 3 months (42.9 [40.3 to 45.7] ng/mL, P50.03) compared with control subjects (39.4 [37.7 to 41.2] ng/mL). Initial levels of b-TG were significantly higher in those who subsequently died (58.7 [52.3 to 65.8] ng/mL) compared with those still alive (42.7 [40.1 to 45.5] ng/mL, P,0.0001). In a logistic regression model, b-TG remained an independent predictor of poststroke mortality, with an odds ratio for an increase in 10 ng/mL of 1.12 (1.03 to 1.21, P50.006). In subjects who had never smoked, there was a significant difference in the genotype distributions of patients with atherothrombotic stroke (A1/A15147, A1/A2570, and A2/A252) compared with controls (A1/A15165, A1/A2547, and A2/A255, P50.03). The Pl distribution of subjects with atherothrombotic stroke before the age of 50 years (A1/A1519 and A1/A21A2/A2518) was also significantly different from ageand sex-matched controls (A1/A1554 and A1/A21A2/ A2520, P50.02). We found no association of VNTR with stroke or poststroke mortality. These data indicate that there is a persistent state of enhanced platelet activation in subjects with acute stroke, which is associated with poststroke mortality. The increased frequency of the Pl allele in young subjects with atherothrombotic stroke lends further support for a role of the Pl polymorphism in acute thrombosis. (Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 1998;18:1124-1131.)