Evaluation of platelet activation, plasma antithrombin III and alpha2-antiplasmin activities in hypertensive patients.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the degree of platelet activation and plasma antithrombin III and alpha2-antiplasmin activities in hypertensive patients. The studied group consisted of 21 patients with hypertension. The control group included 19 healthy volunteers. The values of platelet and plasma coagulation factors were determined using the synthetic chromogenic substrates and the spectrophotometric method. Compared to the healthy individuals, the hypertensive patients show increased platelet activity confirmed by a statistically significant increase in the platelet factor 3 activity, which is likely to intensify the plasma proaggregation and procoagulation activities. In the hypertensive patients, a significant decrease in antithrombin III (the endogenous inhibitor of the coagulation system) concentration is observed. In arterial hypertension, a significant decrease in alpha2-antiplasmin activity is found, which may reflect decreased fibrinolytic activity of plasma in the hypertensive patients.