Role of Platelets In The Pathogenesis of Antiphospholipid Syndrome

INTRODUCTION: Pathogenesis of Antiphospholipid Syndrome (APS) is an ongoing area of research and studying the role of platelets will be helpful in developing newer diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty patients with APS, diagnosed as per modified 2006 Sapporo's Criteria and who were not on aspirin or any other anti-platelet drug, were included. The same number of age- and sex-matched healthy controls was also recruited for comparison. The following platelet function studies were performed using the blood samples collected from APS patients as well as healthy controls: platelet aggregation studies, platelet secretion of dense granules (a. total degranulation b. platelet secretion of granules in relation to time c. visualization of platelet degranulation), clot retraction studies, and western blot studies on clot retracted samples for demonstration of activated proteomes. RESULTS: A significant increase (P < 0.001) in the platelet aggregation in APS patients as compared to healthy controls was noted. The subjects also showed a significant increase (P < 0.05) in the platelet granule release as well as more degranulation (P