Platelet activation correlates with disease severity in bronchiectasis

Background: Platelets have a recognized role in cardiovascular risk. In recent years, its involvement in the immunoinflammatory response has also been demonstrated. However, there is no data on its role in a chronic inflammatory disease such as non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis. Aims: We aimed to study a soluble marker of platelet activation and its relationship with severity in bronchiectasis. Methods: We conducted a prospective study in two tertiary care hospitals in Spain with BE patients in stable phase. Peripheral blood samples were obtained from patients and healthy controls. Platelet activation was evaluated through enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay measuring soluble P-selectin (sP-selectin), a recognized marker of platelet activation resulting from the scission of the platelet membrane receptor P-selectin (CD62 +). For severity assessment Bronchiectasis Severity Index (BSI) was measured. Results: We included 73 patients with stable bronchiectasis and 26 healthy controls. Increased levels of sP-selectin were found in bronchiectasis compared to healthy controls (p < 0.05). BSI status distribution was as follows: mild 15 (20.5%) patients; moderate 25 (34.2%) patients; severe 33 (45.2%) patients. A direct correlation between sP-selectin and BSI status (rho 0.25, p < 0.05) was found. Patients with severe bronchiectasis had higher levels of sP-selectin compared to those with milder disease (Figure 1). Conclusion: Patients with stable bronchiectasis present increased platelet activation compared to healthy controls. Platelet activation correlates with disease severity. The clinical consequences of these findings are to elucidate.