[Thromboxane, prostacyclin and platelet factor 4 in patients with atrial fibrillation]

Thromboxane++ (TX), prostacyclin (PC) and platelet factor IV (PF) were assayed using radioimmune kits in 46 patients with cardiac fibrillation secondary to coronary heart disease and rheumatic fever. The study established elevated TX beta 2 levels, low concentrations of 6-ketoPGF1 alpha, enhanced activity of PF. Restoration of the sinus rhythm by electroimpulse treatment (EIT) brought about augmentation of the Tx-Pc-PF unbalance on day 2-3. This may give rise to "normalization" thromboembolism. On days 5-7 after EIT the intensity of platelet aggregation and PF secretion diminish. It is concluded that patients with sudden cardiac fibrillation in need of sinus rhythm correction will benefit from disaggregation and anti-coagulant therapy.