The peripheral platelet count and the isoprenaline-induced splenic platelet pooling in response to beta-adrenoceptor blockade.

Previous reports have shown that a single, oral dose of 50 mg metoprolol (a selective beta-1-receptor antagonist) causes a significant increase in the peripheral platelet count by releasing platelets from the spleen. In the present study 20 healthy volunteers received 50 mg metoprolol and 40 mg propranolol orally. Both drugs induced a statistically significant increase in the platelet count lasting more than 5 h. In addition, the effect of metoprolol and propranolol on beta-adrenoceptor mediated splenic platelet trapping was studied on 7 healthy subjects who received intravenous infusions of isoprenaline before and after the ingestion of these 2 beta-blocking drugs. It was demonstrated that the isoprenaline mediated decrease in the venous platelet count was diminished by both propranolol and metoprolol but the former compound appeared to be more potent in this respect. We conclude that both selective and non-selective beta-receptor blockade causes an increase in the peripheral platelet concentration during rest as well as during beta-adrenoceptor stimulation.