title: Ketanserin (S2-receptor blocking agent), platelet activity and chronic alcoholism.
abstract: Ketanserin is a pure and selective antagonist of serotonin S2-receptors in blood vessels, platelets and bronchial tissue. It antagonizes serotonin-induced vasoconstriction, bronchoconstriction and platelet aggregation, and indirectly it blocks platelet release reaction. Ketanserin has little or no effect on healthy subjects. Serotonin-induced or serotonin-potentiated platelet aggregation is inhibited in blood drawn from ketanserin-treated healthy volunteers. Oral or parenteral ketanserin treatment did not cause major changes in beta-thromboglobulin (beta-TG) and platelet factor 4 (PF4) plasma concentrations, when basic values were normal. Increased microaggregate formation was found in alcoholics and heavy drinkers. It was also found that beta-TG and PF4 levels were higher in these patients than in the controls. Ketanserin treatment tended to normalize these protein levels in such patients.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007650:Ketanserin; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010880:Piperidines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010974:Platelet Aggregation / Q000187:drug effects*; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001620:beta-Thromboglobulin / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D010880:Piperidines; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists; D001620:beta-Thromboglobulin; D007650:Ketanserin