Elevated lipid peroxide levels in platelets of chronic ischemic heart disease patients

A significantly higher platelet malondialdehyde-like material (MDA--LM) content after physical and N-ethylmaleimide (NEM) stimulation is found in chronic ischemic heart disease (CHD) patients when compared to the control group. In subjects under aspirin treatment "in vivo" (1 gr/day) no difference is found between CHD and control group. It is suggested that the enhanced amount of lipid peroxides in CHD platelets is produced by a cyclooxygenase-dependent mechanism. This enhanced platelet lipid peroxide production in CHD may be another platelet-dependent risk factor for atherosclerosis in these patients.