Effects of sarpogrelate on blood viscosity.

Abstract

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effects and safety of sarpogrelate hydrochloride (sarpogrelate) in patients with elevated blood viscosity (BV), after 12 and 24weeks of twice (BID) or thrice (TID) daily administrations of sarpogrelate (100mg). The participants received oral sarpogrelate administration for 24weeks and visited the hospital every 12±2week for blood viscosity measurements at shear rates of 5 and 300s-1. The BV measured at shear rate of 5s-1 in male patients decreased significantly from 18.91cP at the baseline to 16.3cP after 24weeks of sarpogrelate administration (13.6% drop, p<0.001). The BV measured at 5s-1 in female decreased more significantly from 17.5cP at the baseline to 13.4cP after 24weeks of sarpogrelate administration (23.0% drop, p<0.001). In summary, sarpogrelate may be considered as a possible therapeutic option for improving BV in patients with elevated blood viscosity. In particular, the reduction of the low-shear BV with the help of a viscosity-reducing drug such as sarpogrelate may be considered as a potentially new pharmacological tool for microvascular disease.