Low-density lipoprotein enhances platelet activation in parallel with the height of blood pressure.

The platelet-activating effect of low-density lipoprotein, ADP and collagen was investigated in 45 essential hypertensive patients (27 men, 18 women) and 45 healthy normotensive subjects strictly matched for age and sex. No differences in mean values were found between essential hypertensive and normotensive subjects. However, in essential hypertensive patients platelet sensitivity to low-density lipoprotein correlated positively whereas ADP and collagen correlated negatively with blood pressure (P less than 0.05). Diminished platelet sensitivity to ADP and collagen may reflect receptor desensitization. The pressure-dependent increase in platelet response to low-density lipoprotein possibly contributes to enhanced thrombo-embolic complications and platelet-mediated vasoconstriction as well as to low-density lipoprotein-related vascular damage in essential hypertension.