Effect of dazoxiben on arterial graft thrombosis in the baboon.

1 The thromboxane A2 synthetase inhibitor dazoxiben (UK 37248) was given orally to normal male baboons to determine its effect on platelet function in forming haemostatic plugs, and its capacity to prevent arteriovenous shunt and vascular graft thrombosis. 2 The standard template bleeding time was prolonged significantly at all doses ranging from 10-100 mg/kg (P less than 0.02 in all cases). 3 Doses ranging from 20-100 mg/kg daily did not normalize shortened platelet survival time or increased platelet destruction associated with chronic thrombogenic arteriovenous cannulae (P greater than 0.5). 4 A dose of 50 mg/kg did not reduce the rate or extent of acute platelet deposition on to Dacron vascular grafts (P greater than 0.5). 5 Despite significant inhibition of the platelets' capacity to form haemostatic plugs dazoxiben alone is ineffective in the prevention of prosthesis-related arterial thrombosis in the doses studied.