The inability of propranolol and aspirin to inhibit the response of fibrinolytic activity and factor VIII-antigen to infusion of DDAVP.

We tested the response of the fibrinolytic activity and factor VIII-antigen levels to infusion of DDAVP in healthy volunteers and we studied the influence of propranolol and aspirin on this response. After DDAVP, 0.4 microgram/kg in 10 min i.v., the fibrinolytic activity of redissolved euglobulins rose from 179 to 452 mm2 (lysis area of fibrin plates); after pretreatment with propranolol, 320 mg per day during 7 days, DDAVP induced a similar rise (from 166 to 471 mm2) and after pretreatment with a single dose of aspirin, 600 mg, ingested 5 hr before the DDAVP infusion, the lysis area increased from 159 to 455 mm2. Factor VIII-antigen level increased within 60 min after DDAVP from 104 to 208%; after pretreatment with propranolol from 111 to 230% and after a single dose of aspirin, DDAVP induced a rise from 107 to 206%. From these data we conclude that neither baseline levels nor the release of plasminogen activator or factor VIII after DDAVP infusion are influenced by beta-blockade or by interference with prostaglandin synthesis.