Mj. Zurbano et al., COCAINE ADMINISTRATION ENHANCES PLATELET REACTIVITY TO SUBENDOTHELIALCOMPONENTS - STUDIES IN A PIG MODEL, European journal of clinical investigation, 27(2), 1997, pp. 116-120
Citations number
27
Categorie Soggetti
Medicine, Research & Experimental","Medicine, General & Internal
Myocardial infarction in cocaine abusers may be related to a direct pl
atelet-activating effect. We analysed this possibility in an experimen
tal model. Studies were carried out in eight normal, anaesthetized pig
s with a weight of 30.7+/-3.7 kg. Blood samples were withdrawn before
and 20 min after i.v. administration of cocaine (10 mg kg(-1); at 1 mg
kg(-1) every 2 min). Modifications in platelet responses to arachidon
ic acid (AA; 1.4 mmol L(-1)), ADP (1-4 mu M), synthetic thromboxane en
doperoxide analogue (U46619; 1 mu M), collagen (2.5-5 mu g mL(-1)), ad
renaline (10 mu M) and ristocetin (0.8-mg mL(-1)) were tested by conve
ntional aggregometry. Changes in the capacity of platelets to farm agg
regates on damaged subendothelium were assessed by means of an ex vivo
perfusion system in which blood was circulated for 10 min at 800 s(-1
), a shear rate similar to that found in normal coronary arteries. The
interaction of platelets with perfused denuded arterial segments was
morphometrically quantified and expressed as a percentage of damaged v
essel surface covered by platelets (%CS). Cocaine administration did n
ot influence platelet aggregation patterns in pigs. However, there was
a significant increase in the interaction of pig platelets with suben
dothelial structures after cocaine infusion (%CS=40+/-17% vs. 27+/-16%
baseline; mean+/-SD; P <0.01). Cocaine administration in this animal
model increases the reactivity of platelets exposed to subendothelium.
These results support the concept that the administration of cocaine
to pigs has a prothrombotic effect by facilitating the interaction of
platelets with damaged arteries.