Effect of disulfiram on the platelet function and fibrinolysis in healthy volunteers.

Disulfiram was studied for platelet and fibrinolytic activity in 12 healthy volunteers of both sexes (age 23-75 years). Placebo was given for 7 days, followed by disulfiram, 800 mg for 2 days and 400 mg for an additional 12 days. Finally, there was another placebo period of 14 days. With the exception of an initial platelet activation on day 2, no significant effects were found on the platelet variables studied: platelet aggregation with collagen, ADP and adrenaline, beta-thromboglobulin and platelet factor 4. Treatment for 14 days with disulfiram resulted in a decreased euglobulin clot lysis time: from 421 +/- 82 to 246 +/- 41 min (p less than 0.01). After an initial increase, plasminogen activator inhibitor activity was slightly decreased on disulfiram, from 8.4 +/- 1.6 on placebo to 6.0 +/- 1.2 U/ml (p less than 0.05) after 14 days of treatment. Plasminogen, fibrinogen and alpha 2-antiplasmin were unchanged. It is concluded that disulfiram can increase fibrinolytic activity in healthy subjects.