Platelet and hemocoagulative changes in elderly atherosclerotic patients after treatment with the antiaggregating drug picotamide

The effects of the antiaggregating drug picotamide on platelet and hemocoagulative parameters were evaluated in a group of 28 elderly atherosclerotic patients. After 1 month of treatment, consisting of one 300 mg tablet three times per day, a significant inhibition of platelet aggregability in response to ADP, adrenaline, arachidonic acid and collagen and a reduction of the mean platelet volume (−4.62±7.46%, P<0.003) was observed. Fibrinogen plasma levels, unchanged at the 15th day, were significantly reduced at the 30th day, from 445.6±145.95 to 382.72±110.56 mg/dl (P<0.01), while no changes were observed in antithrombin III, factor VII, d-dimer plasma levels and in plasmatic and urinary fibrin(ogen) degradation products values. The results seem to indicate a reduction after antiaggregating treatment of the interaction between the platelets and the vessel wall, that may be responsible for the changes observed.