Plasma glycocalicin levels are not elevated in patients with a history of transient ischaemic event and are normal in aspirinated normal volunteers. 
Glycocalicin (GC) is the soluble portion of platelet membrane protein GP1b, and may be cleaved from the platelet surface during platelet activation.  Previous study has indicated that plasma glycocalicin/platelet (GC/plt) levels are elevated in patients presenting with acute stroke.  The present study was undertaken to determine the GC/plt levels in patients being treated for transient ischaemic episodes, to assess whether the elevated GC/plt level in acute stroke is due to a detectable, constitutive premorbid state of platelet activation.  In sixteen consecutive patients attending a vascular surgery clinic, GC levels were measured on a citrated plasma sample, and corrected for circulating platelet count.  Since 15 of 16 patients were taking aspirin when seen at clinic, a control study was undertaken to assess the effect of aspirin on sequential plasma GC/plt levels measured over 10 days--5 pre and post daily aspirin for 5 days, 4 acting as non-aspirinated controls.  Plasma GC/plt levels in normal plasma were 21.6 +/- 8.0 fg; mean +/- SD.  In the 16 patients the GC/plt levels were 13.1 fg/plt; SD 5.4, range 2.9-24.3.  All platelet counts were in the normal range in all patients involved.  While a masking effect due to aspirin cannot be completely ruled out, these studies indicate that plasma GC/plt level is not useful as a predictor of acute stroke in the premorbid population.