Studies on the action of ethamsylate (Dicynene) on haemostasis

Twelve healthy subjects received ethamsylate or a placebo by mouth over a 48 h period in a randomized double-blind trial. The template bleeding time (including estimation of amount of blood loss), platelet aggregation studies, and plasma levels of plasminogen, alpha 2-antiplasmin and fibronectin were carried out before and during treatment. The effect of a single dose (600 mg) of aspirin, given 24 h after commencement of treatment, was also determined. Neither ethamsylate nor placebo caused a significant change in the basal values of any of the variables monitored but both the prolongation of the bleeding time and the amount of blood loss induced by aspirin were significantly less during ethamsylate treatment than with placebo. Ethamsylate failed to prevent the aspirin-induced elimination of the secondary wave of platelet aggregation. We conclude that ethamsylate may reduce the haemorrhagic symptoms associated with mild functional platelet defects.