[Should all prosthetic valve patients be treated by platelet inhibitors?].

The number, volume and adhesive and aggregation activities of platelets were studied in 31 patients with artificial valves. The differences observed in comparison with a control population are due to stimulation of thrombocytopoiesis secondary to the destruction or concumption of the platelets, it being impossible to be sure as to the dominant mechanism. Under these circumstances it would seem important in each patient to verify the therapeutic effectiveness of platelet inhibitors or of traditionnal anticoagulants by direct or indirect study of platelet life duration.