Effect of ticlopidine on coagulation and platelet functions during hemodialysis with cuprophan membranes.

The study is a comparison of two successive HD sessions on each patient. 60 min prior to the first session a placebo was administered orally, while to the second session 500 mg ticlopidine. Arterial blood samples for leucocyte and platelet counts, C3 complement, blood gases, beta-thromboglobulin (beta-TG) and platelet factor 4 (PF-4) measurement were taken before and 15, 30, 60, 120, 240 min during each HD session. Platelet aggregation (ADP 1 microM/ml) was also carried out pre and post-dialysis. It is suggested that ticlopidine: 1) prevents HD-induced complement activation and related phenomena, 2) normalize the increased plasma levels of platelet markers 3) inhibits the ADP-induced platelet aggregation.