Sevoflurane Inhibits Human Platelet Aggregation and Thromboxane A2Formation, Possibly by Suppression of Cyclooxygenase Activity

Abstract

The findings that sevoflurane suppressed the effects of arachidonic acid, but not those of prostaglandin G2 and STA2, suggest strongly that sevoflurane inhibited TXA2 formation by suppressing cyclooxygenase activity. Halothane appeared to suppress both TXA2 formation and binding to its receptors. Sevoflurane has strong antiaggregatory effects at subanesthetic concentrations (greater than 0.13 mM; i.e., approximately 0.5 vol/%), whereas halothane has similar effects at somewhat greater anesthetic concentrations (0.49 mM; i.e., approximately 0.54 vol/%). Isoflurane at clinical concentration (0.84 mM; i.e., approximately 1.82 vol/%) does not affect platelet aggregation significantly.