PPBP and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: Similar to the above, the study by Ashitani et al. showed elevated levels of a platelet activation marker (beta-thromboglobulin) and coagulation-fibrinolysis markers (fibrinopeptide A, thrombin-antithrombin III complex, and tissue plasminogen activator-plasminogen activator inhibitor) in 40 COPD patients compared to a control group [24].