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Biomedical subjects

M M Samama

Publications and source records attributed to M M Samama.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources

In vitro effect of plasmin on human platelet function in plasma. Inhibition of aggregation caused by fibrinogenolysis.

BACKGROUND: Plasmin has been reported both to activate platelets and to inhibit platelet functions. The latter effect was thought to be caused by proteolysis of the main membrane glycoproteins. METHODS AND RESULTS: We found that incubation of citrated human platelet-rich plasma with streptokinase (SK) (300 IU/ml) does not produce any detectable activation but leads to a time-dependent inhibition of ADP-induced aggregation accompanied by substantial fibrinogenolysis. These effects were abrogated by previous addition of a plasmin inhibitor, aprotinin. Crossover experiments (SK-treated or control platelets mixed with SK-treated or control plasma) demonstrated that the platelets remained functional and that the aggregation defect was caused by fibrinogenolysis. Further experiments (addition of purified fibrinogen to fibrinogen-depleted plasma with either SK or thrombin) suggested that in addition to the low residual level of fibrinogen, fibrinogen degradation products had an inhibitory effect. Under the same conditions, tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) (3,000 ng/ml) had no effect on platelet aggregation, and plasma fibrinogen was not significantly lowered. The effects on glycoproteins IIb-IIIa of incubation with SK, t-PA, or plasmin were assessed with immunoblots with murine monoclonal antibodies directed against either part of the complex, which is the receptor for fibrinogen. Proteolysis was detected only in the presence of EDTA, a potent chelator of divalent cations. CONCLUSIONS: The incubation of human platelets in citrated plasma with SK concentrations obtained during therapy leads to an aggregation defect that is related to the decrease in fibrinogen, the adhesive protein involved in this function, and to the impeding effect of fibrinogen degradation products on its binding onto platelets but not to an alteration of the corresponding platelet receptor, the heterodimer glycoproteins IIb-IIIa.

Blood Platelets↗

Anti Xa activity and prothrombinase inhibition in patients treated with two different doses of enoxaparin in gynecologic surgery.

A prospective open study was performed in a series of 547 patients undergoing gynecologic surgery. A dose of 20 mg of enoxaparin was administered to all patients 2 hours before surgery. Then patients at high risk of thrombosis (mostly oncologic surgery) received 40 mg of enoxaparin daily whereas those at moderate risk received 20 mg of enoxaparin daily. The principal aim of this prospective open study was to monitor amidolytic anti Xa activity and to study the inhibition of intrinsic prothrombinase using prothrombin consumption measurement as a simple and global test. A second aim was to investigate efficacy and tolerance of these regimens. Treatment tolerance was satisfactory with both regimens since the total incidence of bleeding was 1.8%. A single patient developed a clinically significant thrombosis during hospital stay. The results confirm and extend previous reports regarding a dose effect relationship between the dose of Enoxaparin and plasma Anti Xa activity 3 hours after s.c. injection. A significant relationship was found between Anti Xa activity and patients body weight. Interestingly a dose dependent inhibition of intrinsic prothrombinase was observed when using a one stage prothrombin consumption assay in whole blood. This test in whole blood can be considered as closer to physiological conditions than assays performed in citrated platelet rich or platelet poor plasma samples. The mechanism of intrinsic prothrombinase inhibition during prophylactic treatment with enoxaparin requires further investigation.

Adult↗

[Therapeutic indications of low molecular weight heparins].

The depolymerisation of the various chains of unfractionated heparin (UFH) by chemical or enzymatic reactions provides so-called low molecular weight heparin (LMWH), with an average molecular weight of approximately 5000 daltons. The specific biological and pharmacokinetic properties of LMWH with greater inhibition of factor Xa than of thrombin activity, less interaction with platelets, better bioavailability and a longer half life of anti-Xa activity, suggest possible new therapeutic applications. The hypothesis of reducing the risk of haemorrhage related to the antithrombin activity and the incidence of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia whilst preserving effective antithrombotic action has stimulated clinical and biological research. Clinical trials of prophylaxis of venous thrombo-embolism have been undertaken mainly in surgical patients. The results have shown identical if not better efficacy of LMWH compared to UFH in general surgical and above all orthopedic patients in whom subcutaneous heparin is only effective with a strict protocol which is difficult to adhere to in routine practice (adaptation of dosage to activated partial thromboplastin time). The risk of bleeding was not significantly lower using LMWH at the specified dosage, which in the latter indication, is twice that used in general surgery. There are many indications of prophylaxis of thromboembolism in the medical specialties but, paradoxically, LMWH has not been widely studied because of the difficulties in performing the therapeutic trials. Except in rare cases (extreme body weights, renal failure, haemorrhagic disease, thrombotic or haemorrhagic complications) the evaluation of amidolytic anti-Xa activity does not seem to be necessary. More recently, LMWH has been studied in a small number of trials for the treatment of deep venous thrombosis (DVT). The therapeutic efficacy is identical if not better than that of UFH without increasing the risk of bleeding. Biological monitoring seems to be necessary in this indication for evaluating amidolytic anti-Xa activity, which, though not a true marker of antithrombotic activity is a relatively sensitive investigation. The therapeutic values are 0.5 IU/ml to 1.0 IU/ml, 3 to 4 hours after subcutaneous injection. The conclusions of all these trials are: LMWH is relatively simple to use and, compared with UFH, has a more stable anticoagulant effect due to its pharmacokinetic properties; the therapeutic efficacy is as good as, if not better, than that of UFH; the risk of bleeding remains, therefore, the specified dosages should be respected and treatment should be monitored by anti-Xa activity when indicated; the decreased interaction with platelet function should not mask the risk of thrombocytopoenia.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Clinical Protocols↗

The inhibition of intrinsic prothrombinase and its generation by heparin and four derivatives in prothrombin poor plasma.

The effect of different heparins and a synthetic pentasaccharide on the inhibition of intrinsic prothrombinase and of its generation was studied by a new technique, using a defibrinated prothrombin poor human plasma, supplemented with phospholipids and calcium. Prothrombinase activity was evaluated on purified prothrombin with a chromogenic substrate. This technique is designed to bypass the interference of massive endogenous thrombin generation on the measurement of prothrombinase activity. We first validated the specificity of the technique by using specific Xa and IIa inhibitors. Then, the inhibition of prothrombinase generation and the inhibition of generated prothrombinase were both studied. The results showed that anti-Xa activity measured on exogenous bovine factor Xa added to plasma was not correlated with the inhibition of prothrombinase generation or prothrombinase activity. The concentrations required for unfractionated heparin (the 4th International Standard: 4th IS UH), 1st International Standard Low Molecular Weight Heparins (1st IS LMWH), enoxaparin, Fraxiparine, and pentasaccharide in order to inhibit preformed prothrombinase were significantly higher than those necessary to inhibit prothrombinase generation. These data suggest that anti-Xa activity of unfractionated heparin and its derivatives does not completely reflect the extent of the inhibition of intrinsic prothrombinase generation by UH, LMWH, and pentasaccharide. On the other hand, anti-IIa activity of heparins could be responsible for the inhibition of prothrombinase generation. The action of pentasaccharide devoid of anti-IIa activity on prothrombinase generation appears related to its indirect effect on the formation of initial thrombin traces. This new technique provides a tool to study the essential role played by thrombin during the early steps of coagulation.

Factor Xa Inhibitors↗

Increased red blood cell aggregation in retinal vein occlusion.

Reversible aggregation of red blood cells (RBC) plays an important role in determining the flow properties of blood, and is the cause of the increase in blood viscosity at low shear rates. Retinal venous circulation is characterized by the combination of a low flow state and a high vascular resistance which might severely limit its capacity to adjust to high blood viscosity. These characteristics make the venous circulation in the retina particularly dependent on haemorheological factors. To test the possibility that high RBC aggregation could predispose to the onset and development of retinal vein occlusion (RVO), RBC aggregation and disaggregation (SEFAM erythroaggregameter, France) were measured in 64 patients with RVO. Results were compared to those of a group of 64 controls, similar in age, sex, smoking habit and associated pathologies. Increased RBC aggregation was observed in 52% of the patients, and the mean values showed a highly significant elevation of RBC aggregation parameters in RVO patients (+14%) when compared with controls (P less than 0.001). Subgroups were compared to study the influence of site (central versus branch), form (ischaemic versus non-ischaemic), duration and severity of the occlusion on the aggregation parameters. No significant differences were found between these various subgroups. An increase in RBC aggregability and in the shear resistance of RBC aggregates, by predisposing to circulatory stasis, is likely to contribute to the onset of RVO.

Adult↗

The antithrombotic activity and pharmacokinetics of enoxaparine, a low molecular weight heparin, in humans given single subcutaneous doses of 20 to 80 mg.

The pharmacokinetics of enoxaparine, a low molecular weight heparin, was randomly studied in 12 healthy male volunteers. Doses of 20, 40, 60, and 80 mg were injected subcutaneously in randomized cross-over fashion. Anti-IIa and anti-Xa activities (using amidolytic methods), and calcium thrombin time, were measured over 36 hours. The maximum Amax of the anti-IIa and anti-Xa activities appeared 3 to 4 hours after administration. The terminal half-lives of anti-IIa and anti-Xa activities were approximately 2 and 4 hours, respectively, with no significant variation between the different doses. For the anti-Xa activity, there was a highly significant positive correlation between the dose injected and individual values of Amax (r = +0.915; P less than .001) and AUC (r = +0.913; P less than .001). Enoxaparine displays a relatively small apparent volume of distribution (about 7.0 L) and its total body clearance is about 1.25 L/hr. The mean residence time ranges from 4.6 to 7.6 hours. Thus, the pharmacokinetic profile of enoxaparine is characterized by a linear relationship between dose and absorption, a relatively low clearance and long elimination half-life, and a high anti-Xa/anti-IIa ratio.

Adult↗

Hemostatic enzyme generation in the blood of patients with hereditary protein C deficiency.

The presence of hereditary protein C deficiency has been shown to predispose patients to the development of venous thrombosis. We used radioimmunoassays for the protein C activation peptide (PCP) and the prothrombin fragment F1 + 2 to quantitate the extent of in vivo activation of protein C by thrombin-thrombomodulin and prothrombin by factor Xa, respectively, in the blood of individuals with this clinical disorder. A total of 46 protein C deficient subjects from 18 kindreds were studied. In 23 nonanticoagulated patients with an isolated deficiency of protein C, the mean level of PCP was substantially reduced while the mean concentration of F1 + 2 was significantly elevated as compared with normal controls (1.10 pmol/L v 1.78 pmol/L, P less than .0005 and 2.54 nmol/L v 1.51 nmol/L, P less than .0005, respectively). The metabolic behavior of 131I-F1 + 2 was found to be similar in protein C deficient patients and normal individuals. However, we were unable to establish a significant correlation between decreased PCP levels and increased F1 + 2 measurements in these 23 patients. This study demonstrates that heterozygous protein C deficient individuals with equivalent plasma levels of the zymogen may have markedly different biochemical profiles when assay techniques are used that quantitate the in vivo activity of the coagulation system. Six individuals from three pedigrees were identified as having combined deficiencies of protein C and either antithrombin III or protein S; the genetic basis for the combined deficiency state was determined in two of the kindreds. Finally we observed that hemostatic system activity as measured by the PCP and F1 + 2 assays is markedly suppressed in protein C deficient patients who are chronically anticoagulated with coumarin derivatives.

Anticoagulants↗

Residual plasminogen activator inhibitor activity after venous stasis as a criterion for hypofibrinolysis: a study in 83 patients with confirmed deep vein thrombosis.

In eighty-three patients with confirmed deep vein thrombosis, the fibrinolytic system was studied before and after a 10-minute venous occlusion. Blood was collected at least 3 months after the last acute episode, and PAI-1 antigen and activity, as well as tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) antigen, urokinase-type plasminogen activator (u-PA) antigen, and fibrinolytic activity were measured in these samples. During venous stasis, plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI) activity decreased in almost all patients (81 of 83), from a median value of 8.2 to 2.9 U/mL (P less than .001, Wilcoxon signed-rank test). Because PAI-1 antigen augmented from a median value of 16 to 19.2 ng/mL (P less than .001), the decline in PAI activity was attributed to an increase in t-PA antigen from a median value of 10 to 21.7 ng/mL (P less than .001). Neutralization of PAI activity thus reflects the patient's capacity to overcome basal inhibitory potential through t-PA release. Based on residual PAI activity after 10-minute stasis, patients were classified as good or bad responders (PAI activity below detection limit, ie, less than or equal to 1.0 and greater than 1.0 U/ml, respectively). Good responders had a significantly higher fibrinolytic response after stasis than bad responders (median euglobulin clot lysis time 60 v 180 minutes; dilute whole blood clot lysis time 60 v 120 minutes; fibrinolytic activity on fibrin plates 7.7 v 0 U/mL). Furthermore, good responders, as compared with bad responders, had higher t-PA release (median 16.5 v 11.5 ng/mL), lower basal PAI activity (median 4.8 v 11.2 U/mL), and lower basal PAI-1 (median 11 v 21 ng/mL) and u-PA antigen (median 7.9 v 9.0 ng/mL, P less than .02). Hypofibrinolysis, as defined by the inability of released t-PA to overcome PAI-1 basal inhibitory potential, was observed in 45 of 83 patients (54%) and resulted either from an insufficient release of t-PA or from an increased basal PAI activity.

Adult↗

Specific determination and identification of cross-linked fibrin degradation products in patients under thrombolytic therapy for myocardial infarction.

We have demonstrated that the specific determination and identification of plasma FbDP alone is not sufficient to follow the effectiveness of thrombolytic therapy. Some patients who received an intravenous infusion of rt-PA for myocardial infarction had very high plasma FbDP levels, although no recanalization was observed angiographically. Since in many cases the FbDP levels increased after recanalization, it is assumed that rethrombosis may occur during and after t-PA treatment.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗