A Positive Relationship Between Hostility Levels and Increased Platelet Reactivity in Young Males with CHD

摘要

Measures of hostility have an equivocal association with coronary heart disease (CHD)1. Rather than being a primary cause of CHD or a confounding factor, hostility may be an indirect risk factor acting on more primary pathophysiological processes. Many pathophysiological models exist that provide a potential biological basis for the increased association between psychosocial qualities, including hostility, and CHD. For example, external or inter-nal stimuli results in an excessive excretion of adrenaline in type A cynical individuals. Physiological levels of adrenaline appear to affect platelet function. Hostility maybe associated with increased platelet activation. Platelets from males with premature CHD aggregate earlier and more rapidly in response to adrenaline. Given these observations further evaluation of the relationship between CHD, psychological constructs and platelet function is warranted.