Background:
The LKCH research laboratory has a successful history in research to platelet function under flow and is still one of the authorities in this field. Platelet functional research requires freshly collected blood, which has been a major limitation for epidemiological and clinical research on the relation between platelet function and disease.
Aim:
To delineate platelet function in health and disease with state of the art real time platelet function analysis.
Projects:
A large study has been performed to define normal values of platelet function, using state of the art platelet function measurements in healthy volunteers. The platelet function measurements include: (1) real time platelet adhesion, aggregation and spreading measurements under flow conditions, (2) platelet sensitivity tests for different agonists, (3) measurements of the density of functional receptors on platelets, and (4) measurement of plasma markers of primary haemostasis (b-tromboglobulin, platelet factor 4, soluble Glycoprotein 1b, soluble P-selectin, soluble CD40 ligand, RANTES, the von Willebrand Factor and the von Willebrand Factor propeptide). Plasma and isolated DNA samples will be stored for future research. The data collection started at April 2008 and will be ongoing until January 2010. The normal values will serve as reference for patient oriented research to the involvement of platelets in disease, including end stage renal disease (dr. W.H. Boer, Nephrology, UMC Utrecht), known and unknown bleeding disorders (Dr Schutgens, DIGD, UMC Utrecht), the metabolic syndrome (Dr. Visseren, DIGD, UMC Utrecht) and pre-eclampsia/HELLP syndrome (Prof.dr. Bruijnse, UMC Utrecht). Finally, we have recently started collaboration with Dr. Sarah Middleton, chief technical officer of Haemostatix, a biotechnology company from Nottingham, UK. The list of collaborative projects for this project will expand rapidly in the next years.