thromboxane-b2 and ciprostene

The effect of 9 beta-methylcarbacyclin, a stable analogue of prostacyclin, as a platelet protective agent, has been investigated during in-vitro charcoal haemoperfusion with fresh heparinized human blood, a model of progressive platelet damage. There were no platelet losses over 3 h perfusion after an initial bolus (1 microgram ml-1) of 9 beta-methylcarbacyclin (101.6 +/- s.e. 1.9% of initial value) whereas in the paired control circuit there was a significant reduction in the platelet level (73.5 +/- 4.1%, P less than 0.05). Prevention of rises in plasma thromboxane B2 by 9 beta-methylcarbacyclin confirmed the lack of platelet damage and a significant, but less marked, effect on white cell losses was observed. In a second series of experiments a bolus of 9 beta-methylcarbacyclin in one circuit was compared with prostacyclin infusion in the other which demonstrated that this prostaglandin analogue was as effective as prostacyclin and on the basis of these initial results it would merit clinical evaluation.

Topics: Blood Platelets; Epoprostenol; Hematologic Diseases; Hemoperfusion; Humans; Platelet Count; Thromboxane B2