Sulodexide oral administration influences blood viscosity and fibrinolysis

The aim of this study was to verify the effects of oral administration of a new enteric-coated formulation of sulodexide on blood viscosity and fibrinolysis. Six outpatients suffering from peripheral artery occlusive disease were administered orally two enteric-coated tablets containing 50 mg of sulodexide, twice daily for seven days. On the first and seventh administration days, the following parameters were evaluated: plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1) activity, PAI-1 antigen, tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) and whole blood, serum and plasma viscosity, before (0 time) and 2, 4 and 8 hours after ingestion of the drug. Following the first administration (50 mg), a slight reduction of PAI was registered; after 7 days' administration, a clear-cut lowering of functional and antigenic PAI was observed, together with an increase of t-PA. As to the drug's influence on blood viscosity, after 7 days the most evident reduction was that registered for plasma viscosity. No side effects were observed throughout the treatment period.