Effects of heparin and aspirin on circulating P-selectin, E-selectin and von Willebrand Factor levels in healthy men.
As thrombin stimulates P-selectin expression on platelets and its release into plasma, we hypothesized that enhancing antithrombin activity by unfractionated heparin (UFH) could decrease plasma levels of circulating (c)P-selectin, (c)E-selectin, and von Willebrand Factor (vWF). Hence the effect of UFH and aspirin were examined on these activation markers in healthy volunteers. UFH decreased cP-selectin levels by -10% (CI: -16 - (-4%); P = 0.005) at 24 h, but did not change levels of vWF-Ag. In contrast, aspirin did not affect cP-selectin levels but decreased vWF-Ag levels by -12% (CI: -18 - (-7%); P = 0.005) at 24 h. Neither drug affected cE-selectin levels. Thus, UFH decreases cP-selectin levels, which may reflect decreased platelet activation in vivo. An increase in cP-selectin under UFH therapy should alert the clinician to look for platelet destruction.
Department of Clinical Pharmacology-TARGET, Vienna University Hospital School of Medicine, Währinger Gürtel, A-1090, Vienna, Austria.
T
T
Pernerstorfer
H G
HG
Eichler
P
P
Stohlawetz
W
W
Speiser
B
B
Jilma
D000328:Adult; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001241:Aspirin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015415:Biomarkers; D019040:E-Selectin / Q000097:blood*; D006493:Heparin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019007:P-Selectin / Q000097:blood*; D010314:Partial Thromboplastin Time; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012016:Reference Values; D013917:Thrombin / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D014841:von Willebrand Factor / Q000032:analysis*
D000925:Anticoagulants; D015415:Biomarkers; D019040:E-Selectin; D019007:P-Selectin; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D014841:von Willebrand Factor; D006493:Heparin; D013917:Thrombin; D001241:Aspirin