The effect of short-term exposure to carbon monoxide on platelet stickiness

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Abstract
Prolonged exposure to carbon monoxide accelerates the development of atheroma in rabbits owing to intimal accretion of platelets and fibrin and intramural lipid accumulation (Wanstrup, Kjeldsen, and Astrup, 1967; Birnstingl, Hawkins, and McEwen, 1970). A group of 7 rabbits was exposed in a closed chamber to an atmosphere containing 400 p.p.m. CO for 6-14 hours on several occasions. Platelet stickiness was estimated by a modified Hellem's glass-bead method immediately after exposure and on the following day, for comparison with values in the resting period prior to exposure. There was a highly significant increase in platelet stickiness immediately after exposure to CO, followed the next day by a significant fall below the pre-exposure value. The increase in platelet stickiness after CO exposure may provide a link between tobacco smoking and peripheral vascular disease.