Murphy SJX, et al. - A prospective, multi-centre, observational analytical study comparing full blood count parameters and platelet production/turnover/activation markers in patients with asymptomatic vs recently symptomatic moderate (≥ 50–69%) or severe (≥ 70–99%) carotid stenosis was performed. In recently symptomatic vs asymptomatic carotid stenosis, including those who are micro-embolic signal (MES)-ve, a higher risk of first or recurrent cerebrovascular events could be attributed to the combination of increased platelet counts and a shift towards production of an increased population of larger, young, reticulated platelets.