Blood elements at surfaces: platelets

Mechanisms of acute brain injury after subarachnoid hemorrhage

Brain injury after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is a biphasic event with an acute ischemic insult at the time of the initial bleed and secondary events such as cerebral vasospasm 3 to 7 days later. Although much has been learned about the delayed effects of SAH, less is known about the mechanisms of acute SAH-induced injury. Distribution of blood in the subarachnoid space, elevation of intracranial pressure, reduced cerebral perfusion and cerebral blood flow (CBF) initiates the acute injury cascade. Together they lead to direct microvascular injury, plugging of vessels and release of vasoactive substances by platelet aggregates, alterations in the nitric oxide (NO)/nitric oxide synthase (NOS) pathways and lipid peroxidation. This review will summarize some of these mechanisms that contribute to acute cerebral injury after SAH.

Acute microvascular platelet aggregation after subarachnoid hemorrhage

OBJECT

The mechanisms underlying acute cerebral ischemia after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) are not well established. Platelets aggregate within major cerebral vessels hours after SAH, but this has not been studied in the microvasculature. Platelet aggregates within the microvasculature could mechanically obstruct the lumen and initiate events that injure vessel structure. In the present study the authors examined the hypothesis that platelets aggregate within the cerebral microvasculature acutely after SAH.

METHODS

Subarachnoid hemorrhage was induced in the rat by using the endovascular perforation model. The animals were killed between 10 minutes and 48 hours after SAH. Immunostaining for the platelet surface receptor glycoprotein (GP)IIb/IIIa, which mediates platelet aggregation, was used to detect platelet aggregation. Sham-operated animals were used as controls. The GPIIb/IIIa immunoreactive platelet aggregates were abundant in the microvasculature of the basal and frontal cortex, striatum, and hippocampus 10 minutes after SAH. These aggregates decreased in number from 1 to 6 hours post-SAH and then increased to a peak at 24 hours. No immunoreactive aggregates were observed 48 hours after SAH.

CONCLUSIONS

The data indicate that widespread platelet aggregation occurs very rapidly in response to SAH followed by a decrease within 6 hours and a subsequent increase 24 hours after SAH. Microvascular platelet aggregates may contribute to decreased cerebral blood flow and ischemic injury after SAH via a number of mechanisms.

Novel antiplatelet therapies for treatment of patients with ischemic heart disease: inhibitors of the platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa integrin receptor

Blood platelets play essential roles in normal coagulation and in coronary atherosclerotic disease and its complications. Various antiplatelet therapies, including aspirin, ticlopidine, and dipyridamole, have been developed for use in patients with known coronary artery artery disease to prevent ischemic complications. More recently a more complete anti-aggregation effect has been accomplished by the use of monoclonal antibodies and specific peptide and nonpeptide compounds that bind to the platelet GP IIb/IIIa surface receptor. This receptor becomes activated by platelet stimulation and binds fibrinogen molecules between platelets in the aggregation process. These new antiplatelet drugs are now being evaluated in clinical trials in patients undergoing balloon coronary angioplasty, in whom fewer ischemic events occur when the receptor blocker is used intravenously than with standard therapy, and in patients with stable and unstable angina. Excessive bleeding is an important problem with these agents, and efforts must be made to eliminate this side effect.

Chimeric 7E3 prevents carotid artery thrombosis in cynomolgus monkeys

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

We compared the current antithrombotic strategy of antiplatelet therapy with aspirin, and anticoagulant therapy with heparin, with a specific genetically engineered chimeric antibody (c7E3 Fab) directed against the human glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor in an animal model of arterial thrombosis.

METHODS

Anesthetized cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) were instrumented for monitoring of arterial blood pressure, heart rate, and carotid artery flow velocity. Animals were treated with saline (n = 6), aspirin (25 mg PO daily for 3 days; n = 6), heparin (100 U/kg i.v. plus infusion adjusted to maintain activated partial thromboplastin time at 2 to 3 times baseline; n = 6), aspirin plus heparin (as administered separately, n = 6), or c7E3 Fab (0.10 mg/kg i.v., n = 7; 0.15 mg/kg i.v., n = 6; 0.20 mg/kg i.v., n = 6; 0.25 mg/kg i.v., n = 6). Thrombus formation via anodal electrolytic stimulation (100 microA) to the intimal surface of the right carotid artery was initiated 15 minutes after drug administration and continued for 180 minutes. Electrolytic injury to the left carotid artery began 210 minutes after drug administration and continued for 180 minutes. Whole blood cell counts, glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor blockade, ex vivo platelet aggregation, template bleeding time, and activated partial thromboplastin time were assessed at various time points throughout the experimental protocol.

RESULTS

Hemodynamic and hematologic parameters were comparable among groups at baseline. Treatment with c7E3 Fab inhibited ex vivo platelet aggregation, increased bleeding time, decreased thrombus weight, and increased time to occlusion in a dose-dependent manner in both vessels. Treatment with aspirin, heparin, or the combination of aspirin plus heparin was ineffective for the prevention of carotid artery thrombosis in this model.

CONCLUSIONS

Inhibition of the platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor with c7E3 Fab was found to be safe and effective for the prevention of primary thrombus formation, whereas treatment with either aspirin or heparin or the combination of the two agents failed to protect against occlusive thrombus formation in cynomolgus monkeys.

Effect of controlled local acetylsalicylic acid release on in vitro platelet adhesion to vascular grafts

Thrombosis is the most serious acute problem for small diameter arterial bypass grafts. In this research, small diameter expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (e-PTFE) vascular grafts were coated with acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) loaded poly (d,l-lactide) (PLA) by a solvent casting method. The feasibility and efficacy of this approach were evaluated by ASA release studies and platelet adhesion tests. First, the ASA release kinetics were evaluated from the ASA/PLA coated vascular grafts in an in vitro steady flow loop model. ASA release was measured by a spectrophotometric technique. Finally, the efficacy of local ASA release to reduce in vitro canine platelet adhesion to grafts was determined with epifluorescent video microscopy and quantitative image analysis. The steady state release rates from the 5%, 10%, and 15% ASA/PLA coated grafts were 13.2 x 10(-5), 32.0 x 10(-5), and 41.5 x 10(-5) micrograms/cm2.sec, respectively. Platelet adhesion to 10% and 15% ASA/PLA coated grafts was reduced with respect to the control and 5% grafts for 10 days. Platelet adhesion to 5% ASA/PLA coated grafts was reduced with respect to controls at 2 and 10 days, but not initially.

Prospects for the use of antagonists to the platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor to prevent post-angioplasty restenosis and thrombosis

Despite many advances since its inception in humans in 1977, coronary angioplasty continues to be limited by the problems of abrupt arterial closure and late restenosis. Excessive platelet deposition at the site of angioplasty undoubtedly plays an important role in the pathophysiology of both of these problems. Monoclonal antibodies and snake venom-derived or synthetic peptides directed against a common protein recognition sequence on the platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor are currently in the early stages of preclinical and clinical testing and hold promise of preventing abrupt closure and restenosis by inhibiting platelet function. Whether any of these agents will eventually be commonly used in clinical practice will depend on their effects on the complex pathophysiology of these problems and on their safety profile when administered to patients who are likely to receive other antithrombotic medications and who are instrumented for coronary angioplasty.