The effect of taurolidine on experimental thrombus formation

Venous thrombosis can be the source of emboli, a significant health risk encountered throughout surgical and medical clinics. Taurolidine is an antimicrobial agent used to prevent intraabdominal adhesion formation and sepsis in experimental and clinical trials. The aim of this study is to evaluate effect of taurolidine on experimental thrombus formation and make a comparison with low-molecular weight heparin. Four groups of ten Wistar-Albino rats (300-350 g) were used; with the first and second groups each being administered 10 and 20 mg of taurolidine, the third group low-molecular weight heparin and the fourth group saline solution (control group) respectively. Experimental thrombus formation was performed in rats in the area of the abdominal inferior vena cava by using a combination of stasis and hypercoagulability described by Wessler et al. [Wessler, S., Reimer, S.M., Sheps, M.C., 1959. Biologic assay of a thrombosis inducing activity in human serum. J. Appl. Physiol. 14:943-946.]. Thrombocyte count, the weight of thrombus, prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time and activities of coagulation factors were measured and compared across groups. Thrombus weights in the taurolidine treated groups were lower than the control group and greater than the low-molecular weight heparin treated group. Taurolidine was found to decrease activities of coagulation factors V, VIII, IX, XI and XII. Taurolidine showed no effect on activated partial thromboplastin time and prothrombin time values; however, it decreased thrombus weight, but not as much as low-molecular weight heparin. The cause of these findings in our study may be related to the minimized effect of taurolidine on factor II, VII, and X activities. These effects likely render the agent ineffective in the prevention of venous thrombosis. Taurolidine was found to be less effective than low-molecular weight heparin in prevention of thrombus formation.