Effect of ketorolac, ketoprofen and nefopam on platelet function.

Ketorolac, ketoprofen and nefopam are often used in the treatment of postoperative pain. While nefopam is a non-narcotic, non-opioid central analgesic agent, ketorolac and ketoprofen are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, which, due to their prostaglandin-synthetase inhibiting activity, have antiplatelet effects. In this study we investigated the effect of ketorolac, ketoprofen and nefopam on platelet function by performing bleeding time and in vitro platelet aggregation in 30 healthy volunteers (10 for each treatment) before and 3 h after drug administration.

Effect of oral anticoagulant treatment on plasma and serum antithrombin III: a study on 172 patients at different levels of anticoagulation.

Antithrombin III (AT III) functional levels are much lower in serum than in plasma; during oral anticoagulation this difference is reduced. Plasma and serum of 172 patients taking vitamin K antagonists were tested for AT III antigen and both AT III heparin cofactor and anti-Xa heparin cofactor. Crossed immunoelectrophoresis of AT III on heparin-agarose was also carried out in plasma and serum.

Beta-thromboglobulin in patients with acute and chronic coronary artery disease.

Beta-thromboglobulin (beta TG) plasma levels were measured by radioimmunoassay in 14 patients with acute myocardial infarction (MI), in 13 with myocardial ischemia and recurrent episodes of angina and in 14 subjects with a past history of MI. Increased beta TG plasma values were observed in patients with acute MI and with myocardial ischemia whereas subjects with a past history of MI showed results not significantly different from normal subjects. Daily measurements in acute MI showed in five cases a second peak of beta TG values which suggests the occurrence of a deep vein thrombosis.

Platelet antibody determination by platelet factor 3 assay (comparison with radiolabelled serotonin release and platelet aggregometry).

Platelet antibody determination by the PF3 test was carried out in 96 thrombocytopenic patients with various disorders, 31 repeatedly transfused patients with or without thrombocytopenia and 24 patients with autoimmune disease (SLE and myasthenia gravis) without thrombocytopenia. The frequency of a positive test was greatest in the patients with ITP (61%), SLE (50%) or a history of numerous blood transfusions (60%). The patients with myasthenia gravis also showed a considerable frequency (20%) of platelet antibodies detectable by the PF3 test.