Platelets may have an important role in development of cardiovascular disease (CVD) as a result of chronic stress. We conducted a pilot study to evaluate the effect of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) on baseline platelet activation. Platelet-leukocyte aggregates (PLA) and CD63 expression were measured by flow cytometry and soluble (s)P-selectin concentration was determined in sera of 20 Croatian male combat veterans with PTSD and 20 healthy civilians. Groups were matched in sex, age, body mass index (BMI) and traditional CVD risk factors. Our data showed no differences in measured parameters. Other platelet activation markers should be determined and bigger sample size used in our future study.

Temeljne medicinske znanosti