Exaggerated platelet reactivity in major depression.

TLDR: Depressed patients exhibit enhanced baseline platelet activation and responsiveness in comparison with normal subjects, which may be a mechanism by which depression is a significant risk factor for ischemic heart and cerebrovascular disease and/or mortality after myocardial infarction.

Abstract: Objective: This study iizvestigated whether depressed patients exhibit exaggerated platelet reactivity. Method: In vivo platelet activatioiz, secretioz, and dose-response aggregation were measured in 12 depressed patients and eight normal comparison subjects after overizight bed rest aizd following orthostatic challenge. Results: The depressed patients exhibited increased platelet activation at baseli,ze, demonstrated by increased binding of monoclonal antibody (moAb) annexin V protein reacting with prothrombinase complex binding sites. Followizg orthostatic challeizge, the depressed patients exhibited increases in binding of moAbs PACI a,zd anti-LIBS1 agaiizst actii'atedglycoprotein Jib/lila and GEI2 against P-selecti,z expressed 111)01? secretion. The normal comparison subjects exhibited increases in platelet activatioz only with GE I 2. Conclusions: Depressed patients exhibit enhazced baseline platelet activation and respozsiveness in comparisoz with normal subjects. Heightened susceptibility to platelet acti- vation flltlV he a mechanism b�' which depression is a significant risk factor for ischemic heart azd cerebrovascular disease and/or mortality after myocardial infarction. (AmJ Psychiatry 1996; 153:1313-1317)