Platelet morphological, functional and rheological properties attributable to addictions
Issue title: Selected Proceedings of the 15th Conference of the European Society for Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation (ESCHM), June 28–July 1, 2009, Pontresina, Switzerland
Affiliations: Bulgarian Society of Biorheology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria | Institute of Mechanics and Biomechanics, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria | Institute of Experimental Morphology and Anthropology with Museum, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria
Note: [] Corresponding author: Nadia Antonova, Institute of Mechanics and Biomechanics, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Acad. G. Bonchev Str., Bl. 4, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria. Tel.: +359 2 9796413; Fax: +359 2 8707498; E-mail: antonova@imbm.bas.bg
Abstract: Hemorheological abnormalities such as elevated whole blood viscosity, plasma viscosity, erythrocyte deformability and platelet aggregation, hematocrit and fibrinogen levels, are frequently examined as diagnostic tool and prognostic relevance in socially important hemorheological disorders. Distinct biological – morphological and functional platelet alterations, have been described in different addictions (heroin-, cocaine-, nicotine-, alcohol-, etc.). Chronic addictions could cause biochemical and conformational changes in platelets and their membranes, thus modulating platelet receptor expression, morphology (anisocytosis, giant platelets) and activation (alpha-granule release), platelet aggregation and hemorheological properties. Some of these alterations in chronic addicts – documented at cellular- and molecular level, could be easily used as a precise diagnostic tool with regard to thromboembolic complications and microcirulation injuries attributable to addictions. The present review focuses on some changes in platelet morphological, functional and rheological properties induced by chronic opiate/opioid abuse. Hypothesis is accumulated that free fatty acids (FFAs) and especially oleic acid (OA) could cause positive molecular and conformational changes in platelets of addicts with hemorheological disorders.
