TICLOPIDINE AUGMENTS LUMINOL-DEPENDENT CHEMILUMINESCENCE IN HUMAN NEUTROPHILS

Neutrophils contribute to the pathophysiology of various ischaemic sta tes. Since many agents thought to be antiplatelet have also been shown to affect neutrophil function, it was of interest to examine the effe ct of ticlopidine (250 mg, p.o., b.i.d. for three doses), an antiplate let agent, on fMLP (formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine) stimulated neutrophil aggregation and luminol-dependent chemiluminescence in whol e blood, Neutrophil aggregation did not significantly change from base line values during ticlopidine administration, However, luminol-depend ent chemiluminescence, an index of respiratory burst metabolism, was n oted to be markedly increased during ticlopidine administration. Two h ours following the final dose of ticlopidine, the chemiluminescent res ponse (mean+/-SEM, n=5) was significantly increased from 6.27+/-1.88 t o 12.66+/-2.19 units (p<0.05). A return to baseline (6.68+/-2.24 units ) five days following the administration of ticlopidine was noted. It is concluded from this study that the acute oral administration of tic lopidine may affect neutrophil function as demonstrated by the signifi cant increase in stimulated luminol-dependent chemiluminescence.