EFFECTS OF COCAINE ON HUMAN PLATELET-AGGREGATION IN-VITRO

Citation
Cm. Heesch et al., EFFECTS OF COCAINE ON HUMAN PLATELET-AGGREGATION IN-VITRO, Journal of toxicology. Clinical toxicology, 34(6), 1996, pp. 673-684
Citations number
55
Language
INGLESE
art.tipo
Article
Categorie Soggetti
Toxicology
ISSN journal
0731-3810
Volume
34
Issue
6
Year of publication
1996
Pages
673 - 684
Database
ISI
SICI code
0731-3810(1996)34:6<673:EOCOHP>2.0.ZU;2-M
Abstract
Background: A temporal relationship has been established between cocai ne ingestion and myocardial infarction, and a cocaine-induced increase in platelet aggregation has been suggested as a possible explanation. However, the mechanisms of cocaine associated coronary thrombosis hav e yet to be completely elucidated. For this reason, we examined the in vitro effect of cocaine and its metabolites on platelet aggregation. Methods: Platelet aggregation was tested by obtaining platelet rich pl asma from 42 healthy volunteers and incubating the platelet rich plasm a in six concentrations of cocaine (ranging from 1.47 to 2940 nmol) fo r 10 minutes prior to aggregation with ADP 1 mu M. The same procedure was used to test the effect of two cocaine metabolites, benzoylecgonin e and ecgonine methyl ester, on platelet aggregation. Abnormal results were confirmed by inducing aggregation with ADP at higher concentrati ons (2.4 and 10 mu M) and with arachidonic acid (624 mu M). Results: A t increasing concentrations, cocaine progressively inhibited ADP and a rachidonic acid induced platelet aggregation. No effect was seen with benzoyl ecgonine or ecgonine methyl ester as compared to saline. Concl usions: These data suggest that under certain conditions cocaine may n egatively affect hemostasis by decreasing platelet aggregation.