Testing for lupus anticoagulant (LA) is not recommended in case of inflammation as C-reactive protein (CRP) can interfere in vitro with the phospholipids present in the activated partial thromboplastin time test used to detect an LA. However, the potential interference of an acute phase protein (ie, CRP) in LA testing using the dilute Russell’s viper venom (DRVV) test is poorly studied.
To study the effect of inflammation, as evidenced by increased CRP levels, on DRVV tests.
First, a retrospective analysis (2013-2023) was performed: data on all LA workups were retrieved, and the association between CRP levels and DRVV screen, mix, and confirm clotting times was studied. Second, data on DRVV panels and CRP levels were extracted from 2 prospective studies involving intensive care unit patients to study the association between both variables. Third, CRP was added to normal pooled plasma at 6 relevant concentrations (up to 416 mg/L) to study the association between CRP itself and DRVV coagulation times.
In the retrospective analysis, DRVV screen and confirm clotting times significantly increased as CRP increased (increase of 0.11 seconds and 0.03 seconds per 1 mg/L increase of CRP level, respectively). In the prospective analysis, only DRVV screen was prolonged with high CRP levels (increase of 0.06 seconds for a 1 mg/L increase in CRP level); DRVV screen/confirm ratio was also increased with high CRP levels. In vitro, the addition of CRP did not significantly increase any DRVV clotting times.
LA testing should be performed with much caution in the presence of inflammation as it may be associated with prolongation of both activated partial thromboplastin time and DRVV clotting times.
Polyphenols have been shown to decrease oxidative stress and modulate glycemic response. Nevertheless, their effect on platelet bioenergetics and clot structure in diabetes and hyperglycemia is unknown.
To investigate the effect of polyphenols on human platelet bioenergetics and its subsequent effect on clot structure in normoglycemia vs acute hyperglycemia in vitro.
Four polyphenols (resveratrol, hesperetin, epigallocatechin gallate [EGCG], and quercetin) were selected for initial analysis. Healthy volunteers’ isolated platelets/platelet-rich plasma were treated with 5 or 25 mM glucose to represent normoglycemia and acute hyperglycemia, respectively. Platelet-derived reactive oxygen species (ROS), citrate synthase activity (mitochondrial density), mitochondrial calcium flux, and mitochondrial respiration were performed following exposure to polyphenols (20 µM, 1 hour) to determine their effects on platelet bioenergetics. Procoagulant platelets (annexin V) and fibrin fiber density (Alexa Fluor-488 fibrinogen; Invitrogen) were analyzed by laser scanning confocal microscopy, while clot porosity was determined using platelet-rich plasma following exposure to polyphenols (20 µM, 20 minutes).
Acute hyperglycemia increased ROS, mitochondrial calcium flux, maximal respiration, and procoagulant platelet number. Resveratrol, quercetin, and EGCG reduced platelet ROS in normoglycemic and acute hyperglycemic conditions. Mitochondrial density was decreased by quercetin and EGCG in normoglycemia. Resveratrol and EGCG reduced mitochondrial calcium flux in acute hyperglycemia. Resveratrol also decreased procoagulant platelet number and attenuated oxygen consumption rate in normoglycemia and acute hyperglycemia. No effect of hyperglycemia or polyphenols was observed on fibrin fiber density or clot pore size.
Our results suggest polyphenols attenuate increased platelet activity stemming from hyperglycemia and may benefit thrombosis-preventative strategies in patients with diabetes.