Platelet count and platelet function in patients with angina pectoris (before and after a cycloergometric exercise test).

Platelet count and platelet function (circulating platelet aggregates, retention by glass beads and aggregation) were studied under basal conditions and after a cycloergometric exercise test in 10 subjects with stable angina pectoris and 10 normal subjects. There were no baseline differences between patients and controls in any of the tests of platelet function, nor did the values change after the exercise test. There was, however, a significant increase in the number of circulating platelets after the test in angina patients. Possible reasons for this phenomenon are discussed, with emphasis on the role of catecholamine hypersecretion induced by the physical exercise.