Researchers Find Age is Related to Platelet Activity

Jill Bloom 410-601-5025[email protected]

For Immediate Release:March 17, 2002

RESEARCHERS FIND AGE IS RELATED TO PLATELET ACTIVITYData Could Shape the Way Patients with Acute Coronary Syndromes are Treated

Researchers at Sinai Hospital of Baltimore have discovered elderly patients have less active platelets that could directly affect the way doctors treat them if they are suffering from acute coronary syndromes (ACS). The research will be presented at the 51st Annual Scientific Session of the American College of Cardiology in Atlanta March 17-20.

"This research may help doctors make key decisions when treating older patients suffering from acute coronory syndromes," said Paul Gurbel, MD, FACC, director, Sinai Center for Thrombosis Research, Sinai Hospital of Baltimore. "Many times, powerful medications that thin the blood are used to treat the problem, but in the elderly that may not be the best course of action. We now know that when treating elderly patients, the subsequent bleeding risks must also be examined much more closely.

Doctors know that bleeding is a major risk when using medications to treat ACS and that risk is increased in the elderly. However, this study confirms that this risk may be related to an age-dependent reduction in platelet activity.

When treating older patients for ACS, the study concludes that platelet function should be closely monitored and adjustments need to be made to accommodate the decreased levels of platelet function.

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