Other investigators have shown that heparin in the usual therapeutic range (0.1-0.5 units/ml) has an enhancing effect on ADP aggregation and an inhibitory effect on collagen and thrombin induced aggregation. The effects of low molecular weight heparin (LMWH)and heparinoids (dermatan sulfate, heparan sulfate) on platelet aggregation have not been as extensivelystudied.
We have utilized citrated platelet rich plasma (3.2%citrate-whole blood 1:9) drawn in plastic and adjusted to a final platelet count of 250,000/ul. A Bio-Data 4 channgl aggregometer was utilized with constantstirring at 37 C. The reaction was allowed to run for 20 minutes.
Platelet rich plasma was supplemented 1:9 with saline or heparin and various agonists were then added ifno aggregation occurred. ADP, collagen, thrombin, ristocetin and serum from patients with heparin inudced thrombocytopenia (HIT) were utilized as agonists. Heparin was substituted at concentrations of 0.1 to 500 units per ml and various LMWH and heparinoids were substituted in equivalent anti-Xa or gravimetric concentrations.
At low concentrations no inhibitory effect on any ofthe agonists was observed with any of the heparins or heparinoids.
At concentrations of heparin of 100 u/ml or greater, all agonists were inhibited. At equivalent concentrations of five different LMWH (Cy 216, Cy 222, Pk 10169, Kabi 2165 and pentasaccharide) inhibition did notoccur at all or at very high concentions only. Dermatan sulfate and heparan sulfate inhibited only at high concentrations. HIT serum could not aggregate platelets with dermatan sulfate or pentasaccharide atany concentrations, but it was a good agonist with the other heparins and heparinoids.
Inhibition of adenosine triphosphatase, 5-hydroxytryptamine transport and proton-translocation activities of resealed chromaffin-granule ‘ghosts’
