[Changes in platelet function, activated partial thromboplastin time and plasminogen activator inhibitor in patients...

Twenty patients with recently recognised bronchial asthma and 22 age and sex-matched healthy control subjects were studied. In both groups the activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), prothrombin ratio (INR), fibrinogen, euglobulin lysis time (ELT), platelet number and platelet adhesion and aggregation, tissue plasminogen activator antigen (t-PA Ag) and activity of plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1) were tested and compared. Statistically significant differences between asthmatic and control groups concerning adhesion, aggregation, APTT and ELT were found. In asthmatic group after 14 days of prednisone administration in a dose of 20 mg/d statistically significant (p < 0.05) shortening of APTT, and a significant increase of adhesion, aggregation and PAI-1 activity were found. These results suggest that in asthmatic patients after prednisone treatment platelet activity appeared in a form of intensification of adhesion and of aggregation degree, also the activity of PAI-1 probably of the platelet origin increased.