title: Does nitroglycerin induce heparin resistance?
abstract: We studied the possibility that intravenous nitroglycerin may produce heparin resistance both in vitro and prospectively in a group of 10 patients following coronary angioplasty. Nitroglycerin in physiologic to pharmacologic concentrations (41-250 micrograms/ml) did not produce heparin resistance in vitro as measured by activated partial thromboplastin time and thrombin time. The maximum reduction in activated partial thromboplastin time was 7%. In patient studies, the activated partial thromboplastin time at baseline on heparin alone (93 + 22 s) was not significantly different (p = 0.61) from activated partial thromboplastin measured upon addition of nitroglycerin (94 +/- 27 s) or 30 min following cessation of the nitroglycerin infusion while continuing the same dose of heparin (91 +/- 24 s). We conclude that intravenous nitroglycerin does not induce heparin resistance in vitro or in patients during short-term administration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048.
authors.forename: N E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Lepor
authors.forename: D K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Amin
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Berberian
authors.forename: P K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Shah
mesh_terms: D000800:Angioplasty, Balloon; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000188:drug therapy; D004347:Drug Interactions; D005260:Female; D006493:Heparin / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D005996:Nitroglycerin / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D006493:Heparin; D005996:Nitroglycerin