title: Failure to demonstrate beneficial effect of prostacyclin (PGI2) infusion on red blood cell deformability in patients with peripheral vascular disease: a possible role of the leukocytes.
abstract: The effect of prostacyclin (PGI2) on red blood cell deformability is still controversial. The authors have evaluated some hemorrheologic parameters during PGI2 infusion to patients with severe obstructive peripheral arterial disease not suitable for surgery and not responsive to other medical treatments. PGI2 infusion resulted in a positive clinical effect in 12 of 16 patients, who experienced a significant improvement of their rest pain lasting from two days to more than seven months. Hematocrit, platelet count, and fibrinogen were not modified during PGI2 infusion whereas leukocyte count rose significantly. The evaluation of red blood cell filterability (VRBC) (volume of RBC filtered in one minute) by a whole blood filtration technique showed no significant changes during PGI2 treatment. However, since whole blood filterability is negatively correlated to leukocyte count, a specific regression line was elaborated to remove the potential negative influence of the increased leukocyte counts. VRBC values adjusted to a standard leukocyte number significantly increased during PGI2 treatment.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Semeiotica Medica, Università di Perugia, Italy.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Parise
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Berrettini
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Grasselli
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: de Cunto
authors.forename: G G
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Nenci
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001772:Blood Cell Count / Q000187:drug effects; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D011464:Epoprostenol / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D004907:Erythrocyte Deformability / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D007511:Ischemia / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016491:Peripheral Vascular Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D011464:Epoprostenol