In vivo effects of defibrotide on platelet c-AMP and blood prostanoid levels.

Patients were treated with defibrotide (3 X 200 mg/day) for 7 days. Plasma PGI2 and TXB2 levels were measured by RIA using EDTA-aspisol as anticoagulant and cyclooxygenase inhibitor. Isolated platelet c-AMP levels were also determined by RIA, using EDTA-dipyridamole as anticoagulant and phosphodiesterase inhibitor. Blood PGI2 levels were found to increase significantly upon treatment while the increase in TXB2 levels was not significant. Blood PGI2/TXB2 ratio increased 51%, 30 min after intravenous injection and it remained 28% higher during therapy than the predrug blood level. Significantly higher platelet c-AMP levels were also obtained after the injection of drug (0.02 less than p less than 0.05).