Effect of the administration of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on circulating levels of microparticles in patients with a previous myocardial infarction

Abstract

Background Increased levels of microparticles exposing tissue factor circulate in the blood of patients with coronary heart disease, possibly disseminating their pro-thrombotic and pro-inflammatory potential. Because diets rich in n-3 (polyunsaturated) fatty acids have been associated with reduced incidence of coronary heart disease-related events, we investigated the in vivo effects of treatments with n-3 fatty acids on levels of circulating microparticles and their tissue factor- dependent procoagulant activity in patients with a previous myocardial infarction.Design and Methods Forty-six post-myocardial infarction patients were assigned to receive either 5.2 g of n-3 fatty acids daily (n=23) or an olive oil placebo (n=23) for 12 weeks. Circulating microparticles were isolated from peripheral blood. The number of microparticles, their cellular source and tissue factor antigen were determined by flow cytometry, and their procoagulant potential assayed by a fibrin generation test.Results The total number of microparticles, endothelium-derived microparticles and microparticle tissue factor antigen were not significantly different between the two groups. However, the number of platelet-derived microparticles [from a median of 431 (126–1796, range) ×106/L to a median of 226 (87–677, range)] ×106/L and monocyte-derived microparticles [from a median of 388 (9–1681, range) ×106/L to a median of 265 (7–984, range) ×106/L] in plasma were significantly (p