A Preliminary Study on the Effects of Exercising to Maximum Walking Distance on Platelet and Endothelial Function in Patients with Intermittent Claudication

BackgroundPlatelet and endothelial activation has been shown to be increased in patients with intermittent claudication (IC). Recent studies have suggested that exercise may induce further platelet activation. The aims of this study were to investigate the effect of exercising to maximum walking distance on platelet and endothelial function in patients with intermittent claudication who were receiving statin and aspirin therapy compared with age matched healthy controls.MethodsPlatelet aggregation through COX-mediated and thrombin receptor activator peptide (TRAP)-stimulated GPIIb/IIIa pathways was measured by the Ultegra point of care system in 20 patients with IC on aspirin and 20 healthy volunteers before, immediately and 1h after exercising to treadmill maximal walking distance (MWD). Soluble P-selectin, vWF and sICAM were measured using an enzyme linked immuno-sorbent assay technique.ResultsBaseline platelet aggregation was significantly reduced in patients with IC compared to volunteers (p