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Updated: Sep 23, 2026

Microfluidics in Assessing Platelet Function
Published on: November 8, 2024
The ionic contrast medium ioxaglate interferes with thrombin-mediated feedback activation of factor V, factor VIII
R Al Dieri1, S Béguin, H C Hemker
1Cardiovascular Research Institute (CARIM), Synapse BV, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
Abstract:
Clinical observation shows that radiographic contrast media (CM) may influence thrombus formation. In the search for the underlying mechanism, we have shown that the ionic CM ioxaglate is a potent inhibitor of thrombin generation in platelet-poor and platelet-rich plasma, whereas the influence of the non-ionic contrast medium iodixanol is minimal. Ioxaglate boosts the inhibitory effect of the platelet GPIIb/IIIa antagonist abciximab and the effects of ioxaglate and heparin are additive. Ioxaglate inhibits the clotting of fibrinogen and the activation of factors V and VIII, and of platelets by thrombin. It does not inhibit hydrolysis of small chromogenic thrombin substrates, nor does it influence the heparin-catalyzed inactivation of thrombin by antithrombin. We assume therefore that ioxaglate interferes with the binding of macromolecular substrates to the anionic exosite I of thrombin. The biological correlation to the observed antithrombotic effect of ioxaglate is then to be found in the inhibition of thrombin generation via inhibition of thrombin-mediated feedback activations.
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