Studies in patients with bleeding disorders show that platelet-vessel interaction is important for thromboxane formation in bleeding time wounds

Abstract

The production of thomboxane B 2, the primary metabolite of thromboxane A 2, and 6-keto prostaglandin F 1∝, the primary metabolite of prostacyclin, were measured in response to a standardized vascular injury, the bleeding time, in patients with von Willebrand's disease and in patients with platelet function defects. Compared to controls, thromboxane B 2 levels in bleeding time blood were significantly lower in subjects with von Willebrand's disease. In patients with platelet function defects associated with a deficient response to thromboxane A 2, thromboxane B 2 production in bleeding time blood was similar to controls. In subjects with other platelet function defects, thromboxane production was significantly lower than normal. 6-keto PGF 1∝ production in bleeding time blood was not significantly different in patients compared to controls. The results suggest that bleeding time thromboxane production is influenced by the extent of platelet-vessel interaction.