Diagnostic and prognostic value of p-selectin

P-selectin is cell surface adhesion molecule involved in leukocyte rolling and attachment. It is expressed on activated platelets and endothelium. It also circulates in plasma in a soluble form, which induces procoagulant microparticle formation (Burger et al. 2003).For diagnostic purposes, P-selectin can readily be detected on the platelet surface by flow cytometry and by ELISA as a soluble ligand in the plasma. Along with other markers, these data can be used in the assessment of platelet activation status. Such results bear clinical significance since P-selectin has been implicated in the pathogenesis of wide-spread disorders including coronary artery disease, stroke, diabetes and malignancy (Kappelmayer et al.,2004).Whatever its origin, increased levels of soluble P-selectin measured in citrated plasma seem able to predict patients at risk of an adverse cardiovascular event (Hillis et al., 2002).High P-selectin values indicate activation of platelets and the risk of acute cardiac events in patients with acute coronary syndrome) Itoh et al.,. (2001Preliminary data indicate that blood plasma soluble P-selectin may be considered as a potential prognostic marker in AMI and PPH ( Semenov et al., 2000 ).