The acenocoumarol-carrageenin test

Rats received a single subcutaneous dose of the inflammatory agent carrageenin on the top of the skull, followed by oral acenocoumarol for 3 days; in every case, an extensive haematoma was observed on the skull on day 4. The capillary resistance on the depilated dorsal skin was significantly reduced by this combined inflammatory + anticoagulant treatment. Haematoma development was not inhibited by cortisone, non-steroidal anti-phlogistics (piroxicam, proquazone) or benzopyrone derivatives (hesperidin methylchalcone, oligomeric procyanidin). On pretreatment with vitamin K1 for 1 day, followed by daily treatment for 3 days, no haematoma was observed.