Platelets are the smallest blood cells responsible for clotting a biological fluid. They take part:
- in stopping bleeding (hemostasis);
- in feeding the walls of blood vessels.
How does the platelet aggregation process occur?
As soon as we get the slightest cut, the body signals a problem. Thrombocytes rush to the damaged vessels, which begin to glue together. This action is called aggregation. It takes place in two stages:
- First, the platelets are glued together - this is the initial stage of thrombus formation.
- Then they are attached to the walls of the vessels.
After that on the clot of platelets other elements, still platelets adhere, and as a result the thrombus grows until it blocks the ruptured walls of blood vessels so that blood does not flow out. However, there is a danger that threatens with increased formation of blood clots - these are heart attacks, strokes.
For any abnormality, please contact a specialist.
Blood test for clotting
For the study of platelet aggregation it is necessary to take a blood test:
- If there are bruises from the slightest blows, wounds do not heal well, often there is blood from the nose - this is a signal that the blood coagulability is lowered.
- If there is swelling - on the contrary, coagulability is increased.
The analysis is carried out by introducing an aggregation inducer and observing the reaction. As an inducer, chemical clot-forming substances, which are close in composition to natural ones, are used.
Aggregation of platelets is checked with the help of such inducers:
- adrenalin;
- components of the vascular wall: adenosine diphosphate (ADP);
- ristocetin (ristomycin);
- collagen;
- serotonin.
Spontaneous aggregation of platelets is determined without inducers.
Before taking the test, you need to carefully prepare for the blood test to be accurate. To do this, you must follow these rules:
- Before taking the test, stop taking all aspirin drugs (dipyridamole, indomethacin and others) and antidepressants.
- The analysis is taken on an empty stomach, 12 hours after the last meal, especially it is undesirable to eat fatty foods.
- Do not overload yourself physically, be calm.
- For a day not to drink coffee, alcoholic beverages, not to eat garlic and not to smoke.
- If the body is in an inflammatory process, the analysis must be postponed.
- It is also important to know that during menstruation, a decrease in blood clotting is observed in women, and this can affect the result of the analysis.
The norm of platelet aggregation
A normal amount of platelets in the blood means that a person has a healthy blood formation, tissues and organs are supplied with oxygen and iron in sufficient quantities.
The norm for the content of platelets ranges from 200 to 400 x 109 / l. Also, in the laboratory study of the stopwatch measure the time for which large aggregates of platelets are formed. The normal formation time is 10 to 60 seconds.
Increased platelet aggregation
To understand what kind of condition, when platelet aggregation is increased, you need to pay attention to this: the blood is dense, moves slowly through the blood vessels, stagnates. This manifests itself as a feeling of numbness, swelling. Such thrombocytosis happens when:
- widespread atherosclerosis of blood vessels;
- hypertensive disease;
- diabetes mellitus;
- leukemia;
- stomach cancer or kidney;
- lymphogranulomatosis ;
- after removal of the spleen;
- sepsis.
Dense blood threatens such unfavorable conditions as:
- myocardial infarction;
- thrombosis of the veins of the legs;
- stroke ;
- sudden death from occlusion of the aorta by a severed thrombus, etc.
Decreased aggregation of platelets
With a small number of platelets in the blood vessels become brittle, bleeding stops with difficulty.
If platelet aggregation is reduced, you need:
- Avoid injury.
- Be careful with drugs and alcohol.
- Correctly eat, eliminate spicy and salty foods.
- There are foods rich in iron (beets, apples, buckwheat, meat, fish, parsley, peppers, nuts, spinach).