ASPIRIN IMPROVES THE ENHANCED ERYTHROCYTE AGGREGABILITY IN PATIENTS WITH CEREBRAL INFARCTION

We examined the effect of aspirin on the enhanced erythrocyte aggregab ility in 19 patients with cerebral infarction during the chronic phase . Aspirin (81 mg/day) was administered for 8 weeks. The rate of erythr ocyte aggregation (aggregability) was measured using the whole-blood e rythrocyte aggregometer developed by us (Am. J. Physiol. 251, H1205-H1 210, 1986) before, and at 4 and 8 weeks after initiation of the aspiri n administration. Concomitant measurements were made of certain blood factors such as the hematocrit, albumin-globulin (A/G) ratio and fibri nogen concentration. The erythrocyte aggregation rates before, and at 4 and 8 weeks were 0.154 +/- 0.019/s, 0.144 +/- 0.020/s, and 0.143 +/- 0.020/s, respectively. The erythrocyte aggregation rates at 4 and 8 w eeks were significantly (P < 0.05, Bonferroni's modified t-test) lower than that before aspirin administration. Although the hematocrit valu e and A/G ratio were not changed at 4 and 8 weeks after the initiation of aspirin, the concentration of fibrinogen were significantly (P < 0 .05) reduced at 4 weeks. The above results suggest that aspirin can im prove the enhanced erythrocyte aggregability in patients with cerebral infarction during the chronic phase.