Ultrafine particles and platelet activation in patients with coronary heart disease – results from a prospective panel study

• Main Authors: Wichmann H Erich, Oberdörster Günther, Cyrys Josef, Frampton Mark, Schneider Alexandra, Phipps Richard P, Rückerl Regina, Peters Annette
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2007-01-01
• Series: Particle and Fibre Toxicology
• Online Access: http://www.particleandfibretoxicology.com/content/4/1/1

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Epidemiological studies on health effects of air pollution have consistently shown adverse cardiovascular effects. Toxicological studies have provided evidence for thrombogenic effects of particles.</p> <p>A prospective panel study in a susceptible population was conducted in Erfurt, Germany, to study the effects of daily changes in ambient particles on various blood cells and soluble CD40ligand (sCD40L, also known as CD154), a marker for platelet activation that can cause increased coagulation and inflammation.</p> <p>Blood cells and plasma sCD40L levels were repeatedly measured in 57 male patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) during winter 2000/2001. Fixed effects linear regression models were applied, adjusting for trend, weekday and meteorological parameters.</p> <p>Hourly data on ultrafine particles (UFP, number concentration of particles from 0.01 to 0.1 μm), mass concentration of particles less than 10 and 2.5 μm in diameter (PM₁₀, PM_2.5), accumulation mode particle counts (AP, 0.1–1.0 μm), elemental and organic carbon, gaseous pollutants and meteorological data were collected at central monitoring sites.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>An immediate increase in plasma sCD40L was found in association with UFP and AP (% change from geometric mean: 7.1; CI: [0.1, 14.5] and 6.9; CI: [0.5, 13.8], respectively). Platelet counts decreased in association with UFP showing an immediate, a three days delayed (lag 3) and a 5-day average response (% change from the mean: -1.8; CI: [-3.4,-0.2]; -2.4; CI: [-4.5,-0.3] and -2.2; CI: [-4.0,-0.3] respectively).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The increased plasma sCD40L levels support the hypothesis that higher levels of ambient air pollution lead to an inflammatory response in patients with CHD thus providing a possible explanation for the observed association between air pollution and cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in susceptible parts of the population.</p>