Clinical chemistry
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Further investigations are warranted to better characterize variables that may confound the clinical interpretation of plasma natriuretic peptide measurements, which are increasingly recognized to have diagnostic and predictive importance. ⋯ A substantial proportion of obese patients without CHF or CKD have concentrations greater than the upper reference limit for NT-proBNP but not for simultaneously measured BNP. A history of gastric bypass surgery appeared to be a significant predictor of increased natriuretic peptide concentrations when assessed in a population of patients with class 2 or 3 obesity.
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Platelet-derived microparticles (PMPs) are generally considered a marker of platelet activation in cardiovascular disease. We studied the extent to which PMP subpopulations parallel platelet activation in vitro and in vivo. ⋯ PMP subpopulations reflect platelet activation status better than the total number of PMPs. Increased concentrations of circulating PMP subpopulations are found in aging, and further increases are encountered in peripheral arterial disease and myocardial infarction.