RESUMO
OBJECTIVES: To investigate the rate of ATP, ADP and AMP hydrolysis on the surface of platelets from acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients. DESIGN AND METHODS: Twenty-five patients diagnosed with AMI, through clinical criteria, electrocardiographic changes and increase of cardiac biomarkers, as well as 25 healthy patients were selected. The hydrolysis of ATP, ADP and AMP was verified in isolated platelets of these patients. RESULTS: The results demonstrated that an increase in ATP (54%) and ADP (45%) hydrolysis occurred in AMI patients when compared to the control group. The hydrolysis of AMP also increased by 46% in AMI patients probably leading to an enhancement in the adenosine level. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest an increase in nucleotide hydrolysis in platelets from AMI patients, which could be related to a compensatory organic response to thrombotic events that occur in AMI.