SOME RHEOLOGICAL AND HEMOSTATIC EFFECTS O F THE NOVEL HYPOLIPIDEMIC DRUG FLUVASTATIN

In view of inducing action of hyperlipidemia on progression of nephrop athy and relationships between thrombogenesis, atherogenesis and scler osis, the authors examined fluvastatin effects on platelet-rheological hemostasis. The 12-week course in a dose 20-40 mg/day produced minima l side effects while its hypolipidemic action was noticeable: a 18, 21 and 20% fall in concentrations of total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, respectively. The platelet rheology underwent the foll owing changes: spontaneous platelet aggregation went down from 2.58+/- 0.3 to 1.64+/-0.27 r.units, ADP-induced platelet aggregation rose from 6.5+/-0.66 to 8.08+/-0.77 r.units. No marked changes were registered in hematocrit, plasma and blood density, red cell aggregation and defo rmability. Thus, active lowering of blood lipids was not associated wi th evident inhibition of platelet activity. The absence of this feedba ck in lipid-platelet relations probably indicates an independent signi ficance of hemostatic disturbances in ischemic heart disease and needs further study.