Antiaggregation effect of alum on human platelets

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of alum on human platelet aggregation.

Platelet-rich plasma fractions were prepared from fresh blood drawn from a group of healthy male volunteers. Platelet aggregation was induced by various inducers. The percent aggregation was recorded in the absence and presence of various concentrations of alum.

Alum at concentrations less than 1.5 mg/ml inhibited platelet aggregation induced by collagen, epinephrine. ADP and thrombin in a dose-dependent manner. The IC50s were 0.668, 0.324, 0.250 and 0.191 mg/ml of alum, for collagen-, epinephrine-, ADP- and thrombin-induced platelet aggregation, respectively. In contrast, alum at concentrations up to 1.5 mg/ml did not inhibit ristocetin-induced platelet aggregation.

Alum has an anti-platelet action and should be used cautiously in the treatment of intractable intravesical hemorrhage. Alum is a cheap anti-platelet drug that needs further investigation.