Effect of naftidrofuryl on platelet aggregation in plasma from aspirin treated patients: an in vitro study

This study concerns an in vitro evaluation of the effect of naftidrofuryl on platelet aggregation in plasma of 15 diabetic patients, who were being treated with aspirin, and who were suffering from chronic arterial disease of the lower limbs. Platelet aggregation, induced either spontaneously or by aggregating agents, was measured in platelet-rich plasma (PRP). The results show that serotonin (5-HT)- and adenosine 5'-diphosphate (ADP)-induced platelet aggregation significantly decreased after addition of naftidrofuryl. Decreases were achieved with naftidrofuryl at a low dose (0.06 microM) and became more marked with naftidrofuryl at higher concentrations. In contrast, naftidrofuryl did not appear to modify routinely spontaneous platelet aggregation. These results show an in vitro antiaggregating effect of naftidrofuryl on platelets of aspirinized patients. However, the clinical interest of a such coadministration of naftidrofuryl and aspirin in patients, has still to be confirmed in a double blind randomized trial.