Platelet Survival and Adhesiveness in Recurrent Venous Thrombosis

Abstract

Of 28 patients with idiopathic recurrent venous thrombosis, platelet survival time was abnormally shortened in 18 and normal in 10, and platelet adhesiveness was increased in eight and normal in 20. Platelet survival time was normal in nine anticoagulant-responsive patients, but was significantly shortened in 15 patients who were refractory to anticoagulants or who had had arterial thrombosis. Platelet adhesiveness did not distinguish these patients, nor did it correlate with platelet survival time. Platelet-inhibitor therapy with sulfinpyrazone was effective in the control of thrombosis in seven patients with shortened platelet survival time, increasing platelet survival time and decreasing platelet adhesiveness. These results suggest that shortened platelet survival or increased platelet adhesiveness is present in a high proportion of patients with recurrent venous thrombosis. Platelet-inhibitor therapy may prove useful in such cases. (N Engl J Med 288:1148–1152, 1973)