[Effect of tetramethylpyrazine on platelet activation and vascular endothelial function in patients with acute coronary syndrome undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention].

OBJECTIVE

To explore the effect of tetramethylpyrazine (TMP) on platelet activation and vascular endothelial function after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

METHODS

Eighty patients with ACS were assigned to the TMP group (40 patients) and the control group (40 patients). Before and at the next day of PCI, patient's expressions of the indices of platelet activation CD62p, CD63 and glucose protein (GP) II b/III a were tested by flow cytometry, von Willebrand (vWF) by ELISA, endothelin-1 (ET-1) by RIA, and plasma content of nitrogen oxide (NO) were determined by enzyme reaction, at the same time, the flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) in brachial artery was measured as well using color Doppler. All the afore mentioned indexes were reexamined for comparing when patients in the TMP group received TMP treatment for 14 days.

RESULTS

Before PCI blood levels of CD62p, CD63, GP II b/III a, vWF and ET-1 expression increased significantly (all P < 0.01), FMD and NO decreased significantly (P < 0.01) in ACS patients, as compared with those in the healthy control. After PCI, level of vWF increased significantly (P < 0.05), FMD decreased significantly (P < 0.05), while CD62p, CD63, GP II b/III a, ET-1 and NO changed insignificantly (P > 0.05). As compared with the control group, levels of CD62p, CD63, GP II b/III a, vWF and ET-1 decreased significantly (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), FMD increased significantly (P < 0.05) in the TMP group.

CONCLUSION

TMP can be useful for preventing and treating the intra-coronary thrombosis and protect the vascular endothelial function in patients undergoing PCI.