ristocetin and Anemia

Erythropoietin corrects anemia and improves hemostasis, but on the other hand bears a risk of thrombotic complications. Therefore in the present study an attempt has been made to evaluate bleeding time, platelet functions and some hemostatic and fibrinolytic parameters in relation to blood and platelet serotonin before and after 1, 2, 4, 8 and 12 weeks of treatment. 22 chronically hemodialyzed patients were administered with human recombinant erythropoietin (rHuEPO) in a dose of 2000 IU s.c. 3 times a week. Bleeding time was shortened significantly as early as after 1 week of the therapy, whereas hematocrit and hemoglobin increased after 2 weeks. These changes lasted throughout the study. Only a transient rise in platelet count, collagen-induced platelet aggregation, beta-thromboglobulin and VIII:C activity were observed during therapy relative to baseline values. ADP- and arachidonic acid-induced platelet aggregation seemed to be unaffected by rHuEPO treatment, whereas a gradual and progressive enhancement in platelet aggregation in response to ristocetin was found, starting from the 2nd week of the therapy. It lasted throughout the study and correlated inversely with the bleeding time and positively with a rise in both blood and platelet serotonin. rHuEPO did not alter plasminogen, fibrinogen, platelet factor 4, alpha 2 macroglobulin levels, protein C activity and euglobulin clot lysis time. A decline in protein C and S concentrations and antithrombin III activity observed during the therapy were counterbalanced by a fall in the activity of alpha 2 antiplasmin, C1 esterase inhibitor and plasminogen activator inhibitor. It is concluded that rHuEPO may improve platelet/vessel wall interactions possibly by means of serotonergic mechanisms. A lowered activity of inhibitors of fibrinolysis may be regarded as a protection against a general tendency to thrombosis during rHuEPO therapy.

Topics: Adenosine Diphosphate; Adult; Anemia; Arachidonic Acid; Biomarkers; Bleeding Time; Blood Platelets; Blood Proteins; Erythropoietin; Female; Fibrinolysis; Hematocrit; Hemoglobins; Hemostasis; Humans; Kidney Failure, Chronic; Male; Middle Aged; Platelet Aggregation; Recombinant Proteins; Renal Dialysis; Ristocetin; Serotonin; Thromboembolism; Time Factors

Erythropoietin treatment is known to correct anemia and to improve hemostasis. Since platelets may contribute to thromboembolic complications, we assessed platelet aggregation in whole blood and platelet-rich plasma from chronically hemodialyzed patients treated with erythropoietin and evaluated in vitro effects of this drug on aggregatory responses of uremic and normal platelets. Recombinant human erythropoietin was given to uremic patients at a dose of 2,000 IU subcutaneously three times a week. Platelet aggregation in whole blood and platelet-rich plasma was induced by collagen, ADP, arachidonic acid, and ristocetin. In uremic patients, erythropoietin therapy resulted in an enhancement of platelet sensitivity to various agonists, particularly in platelet-rich plasma, reaching values comparable to those of healthy volunteers. In vitro studies we were unable to show any direct effect of erythropoietin, used at concentrations that occurred post intravenous administration, on platelet aggregation both in whole blood and in platelet-rich plasma.

Topics: Adenosine Diphosphate; Adult; Aged; Anemia; Arachidonic Acid; Case-Control Studies; Collagen; Erythropoietin; Hemostasis; Humans; In Vitro Techniques; Middle Aged; Platelet Aggregation; Recombinant Proteins; Renal Dialysis; Ristocetin; Uremia