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Platelet activation and mitral valve prolapse

Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Medical Center (Dr. Fisher), the Blood Research Laboratory and Department of Medicine, the Memorial Hospital (Dr. Levine, Ms. Forsberg. and Ms. Duffy), and the Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical Center (Drs. Fisher, Levine, Weiner, and Ockene). Worcester, MA.

Mitra1 valve prolapse (MVP) is a predisposing factor for cerebral ischemia, especially in young adults. Cerebral embolization of intracardiac thrombi is the probable mechanism in many cases. Platelets play a key role in the development of thrombi. We found that platelet factor 4, a marker protein of platelet activation, was elevated in 12 of 33 MVP patients (36%) without a history of stroke. This finding indicates that platelets are frequently activated in asymptomatic MVP patients and may allow identification of a subgroup of MVP patients with activated platelets who are at increased risk for emboli.

Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr. Fisher, Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Medical Center, 55 Lake Avenue, North, Worcester, MA 01605.

Supported in part by a grant from The Memorial Hospital Foundation, Worcester, MA.

Presented in part at the thirty-fourth annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology, Washington DC, 1982.

Accepted for publication July 20, 1982.

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