Philip, A. Kramer

Activated platelets contribute to atherogenic processes. Experiments were designed to examine the sex distribution of platelet‐associated cytokines in middle aged men and women in whom coronary arterial calcification was defined. Blood was obtained from 17 healthy individuals (11 female, 6 male) between the ages 48–55. Coronary arterial calcification (CAC) was evaluated by electron beam computed tomography. Plasma cholesterol, lipids, and hs‐CRP were analyzed by the Mayo Clinic Clinical Laboratory and were not different between males and females. Serum cytokines were determined using cytokine arrays (Human Atherosclerosis Antibody Array I, RayBiotech, Inc., GA,. USA). Marker intensity was measured using dot blot analysis with the UN‐SCAN‐IT gel 6.1. CAC was detected in only 2 women (scores of 62 and 84%) but in 4 men (scores of 34, 63, 83 and 95%). Correcting for all other risk factors, expression of platelet‐associated cytokines RANTES and PDGF‐BB was 50% greater in females than in males. In conclusion, platelet activation as indicated by increases in RANTES and PDGF‐BB may precede arterial calcification in woman and may be useful in evaluating cardiovascular risk in early menopausal women. (IRB approval 1299‐05 and funded by Dept. Surgery, Mayo Clinic and Fnd.)