Substantial clinical evidence indicates that large doses of estrogen frequenly result in thromboembolic disorders. Effects of estrogen on platelet aggregability were examined in women with uterine myoma before and after oophorectomy. Bilateral oophorectomy on 15 cases (48.7+0.12 yrs, mean+SE) and unilateral or no oophorectomy on 18 cases (control group : 42.2+0.18 yrs) were performed with myomectomy of the uterus. On one day before and one day, one week and one month after the operation performed, their platelet count by Coulter counter, platelet volume by Coulter channelyzer and platelet aggregability by Sienco aggregometer were measured. 24 hrs total estrogen in urine was also determined. In the control group, platelet counts were 85.1+ 4.9 % of the preoperated value one day after, 127.9+9.0 % one week after and 98.1+7.6 % one month after the operation. In the bilateral oophorectomy group, these were 82.4+5.2 % one day after, 124.0+4.7 % one week after and 96.1+4.8 % one month after. Both the groups showed the same change. Platelet aggregability by 3 μM ADP were 76.9+14.3 % one day after, 203.0+57.1 % one week after and 193.4+59.0 % one month after in the control, while 55.0+13.6 % one day after, 102.5+12.9 % one week after and 60.6+14.7 % one month after the operation in the total oophorectomy group. There was a statistically significant difference in the values obtained one month after the operation between the groups (p<0.05). Characteristic changes in platelet volumes were also observed. A significant correlation was observed between the platelet aggre-gabilities and the daily urinary estrogen excretion levels. The above results suggest that estrogen may enhance platelet aggregability in vivo.
Decrease in Platelet Aggregability after Total Oophorectomy
