Glucocorticoids Impair Platelet Thromboxane Biosynthesis in Community—Acquired Pneumonia

“Previous reports suggest that community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is associated with an enhanced risk of myocardial infarction (MI) and that enhanced platelet activation may play a role.  Aims of this study were to investigate if urinary excretion of 11-dehydro-thromboxane (Tx) B2, a reliable marker of platelet activation in vivo, was elevated in CAP and whether glucocorticoid administration reduced platelet activation”.
“Compared to controls, CAP patients showed significantly higher levels of 11-dehydro-TxB2.  A COX regression analysis showed that 11-dehydro-TxB2 independently predicted MI.  CAP patients treated with glucocorticoids showed significantly lower levels of 11-dehydro-TxB2 compared to untreated ones”.

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