Platelet hyperaggregability in patients with atrial fibrillation: Evidence of a background proinflammatory milieu

Objective Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a condition where platelet hyperaggregability is commonly present. We examined potential physiological bases for platelet hyperaggregability in a cohort of patients with acute and chronic AF. In particular, we sought to identify the impact of inflammation [myeloperoxidase (MPO) and C-reactive protein (CRP)] and impaired nitric oxide (NO) signaling. Methods Clinical and biochemical determinants of adenosine diphosphate (ADP)-induced platelet aggregation were sought in patients ( n = 106) hospitalized with AF via univariate and multivariate analysis. Results Hyper-responsiveness of platelets to ADP was directly ( r = 0.254, p