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Updated: Aug 13, 2026

Platelet Adhesion and Aggregation Under Flow using Microfluidic Flow Cells
Published on: October 27, 2009
The effect of dermatan sulfate on in vitro human plasma coagulation, platelet aggregation and beta TG/PF4 release
E Cofrancesco1, M Colombi, F Gianese
1Centro per la Ricerca Clinico-Farmacologica e Terapeutica, Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy.
Abstract:
We evaluated the in vitro anticoagulant action of dermatan sulfate (DS) (aPTT, antiXa, anti-thrombin) and its effect on human platelet aggregation and beta TG/PF4 release induced by threshold doses of aggregating agents, compared with standard heparin (SH). In pooled plasma, DS prolonged aPTT much less than SH, had no measurable antiXa activity, showed an anti-thrombin activity similar to that shown by SH at a tenfold higher dilution. DS had no direct effect on human platelet aggregation and beta TG/PF4 release. Moreover it did not significantly affect platelet aggregation and release by ADP and collagen, whereas it completely inhibited platelet aggregation and beta TG/PF4 release by thrombin. These data in vitro confirm that thrombin inhibition induced by DS is accompanied by a far lesser aPTT prolongation compared to heparin, without any appreciable interference with platelet function.
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