Blood Biomarkers of Chronic Inflammation in Gulf War Illness.

Background: More than twenty years following the end of the 1990-1991 Gulf War it is estimated that approximately 300,000 veterans of this conflict suffer from an unexplained chronic, multi-system disorder known as Gulf War Illness (GWI). The etiology of GWI may be exposure to chemical toxins, but it remains only partially defined, and its case definition is based only on symptoms. Objective criteria for the diagnosis of GWI are urgently needed for diagnosis and therapeutic research.

Elevated platelet count, C-reactive protein and thromboxane analog-induced platelet aggregation in patients with Gulf War veterans' illnesses: evidence of a chronic inflammatory state?

A previous study of Gulf War veteran's illnesses (GWVI) observed evidence of platelet activation in a majority of patients with GWVI. To further characterize platelet function, we studied 43 patients (40 men) with GWVI (GWVI+) and 21 veterans who served concurrently in the Gulf War but who lacked criteria for GWVI (GWVI-). All participants were free of infection and known inflammatory diseases.

Enoxaparin outcomes in patients with moderate renal impairment.

Background: Enoxaparin sodium has predictable pharmacokinetics that allow for simplified dosing without laboratory monitoring. Reliance on renal function for excretion may lead to accumulation of enoxaparin in patients with moderate renal impairment. However, there is no dose adjustment recommended for these patients.

Measurement of shear-activated platelet aggregate formation in non-anticoagulated blood: utility in detection of clopidogrel-aspirin-induced platelet dysfunction.

We studied the ability of a new instrument, the PlaCor PRT that measures shear-induced platelet aggregation in fingerstick, non-anticoagulated blood without added agonists, to detect platelet dysfunction ex vivo. Platelet reactivity time (PRT) and whole blood aggregation (WBA) were measured in 160 healthy volunteers, before and after aspirin and in 170 participants with established vascular disease or risk factors thereof treated with aspirin ± clopidogrel. Pretreatment PRT and WBA were significantly correlated (collagen r = -.

Tissue factor activity of blood mononuclear cells is increased after total knee arthroplasty.

Tissue factor (TF) is present in small quantities in normal blood and is reported to be elevated in arterial and venous thrombosis. Patients undergoing total knee arthoplasty (TKA) are at high risk of post-operative venous thromboembolism (VTE). To evaluate the possible contribution of elevated blood TF to VTE risk, we performed serial studies of peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) functional TF procoagulant activity (PCA) in 19 patients after TKA.