Platelet and monocyte activation in acute ischemic stroke--is there a correlation with stroke etiology?

An upregulation of platelet CD40 ligand (CD40L) and CD62P has been described in atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases and among patients with acute cerebral ischemia. Correlation between platelet and monocyte activation and the etiology of ischemic stroke were examined in 41 patients with acute ischemic stroke. Compared to 10 controls, all patients with stroke showed a significantly elevated platelet expression of CD40L (P < .001) and had significantly higher amounts of platelet-monocyte aggregates (P = .002). Plasma levels of interleukin 7 were significantly lower in patients with stroke compared to controls (P = .006). Patients with small artery disease had a significantly higher platelet CD40L expression than patients with cardioembolic stroke (P = .029). Plasma levels of soluble CD40L were significantly higher in patients with large artery disease compared to patients with cardioembolic stroke (P = .047). In conclusion, patients with acute ischemic stroke show an upregulation of platelet CD40L and an activation of cellular coagulation with highest activation in the large artery disease subgroup.