The effect of acetylsalicylic acid on platelet function in cyanotic congenital heart disease.

Abstract

ABSTRACT. Goldschmidt, B., Serland, S. J. and Bjernstad, P. G. (Second Department of Paediatrics, Semmelweis University Medical School, Budapest, Hungary; Institute for Thrombosis Research and Department of Paediatrics, Rikshospitalet, Oslo, Norway). The effect of acetylsalicylic acid on platelet functions in cyanotic congenital heart disease. Acta Paediatr Scand,63: 869, 1974.—Children with cyanotic congenital heart disease (CCHD) are susceptible to thromboembolic complications. The pharmacologic inhibition of platelet function may be efficacious in the prophylaxis of thrombosis. The authors have studied the platelet count, Ivy and Duke bleeding time, platelet adhesiveness in vivo and in vitro, thrombelastogram, spontaneous platelet aggregability and platelet aggregation induced by collagen, ADP and adrenaline in children with CCHD before and afier ingestion of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) or placebo. Before treatment, some of the patients had thrombocytopenia, prolonged Ivy bleeding time, increased platelet adhesiveness in vivo and in vitro and increased spontaneous platelet aggregation. In a placebo group, there was no significant change in the pre‐ and post‐treatment values of the investigated indices. After ASA treatment there was no significant change in the platelet counts, Duke bleeding time and thrombelastogram. There was a significant prolongation of Ivy bleeding time, decrease of in vivo and in vitro platelet adhesiveness and normalization of the spontaneous platelet aggregation. ASA inhibited the secondary wave of aggregation induced by small doses of ADP or adrenaline, and decreased aggregation induced by collagen. These data suggest that ASA may be suitable for prevention of thromboembolic complications in CCHD.