The effect of O-betahydroxyethyl-rutosides (HR) on the number of platelet-leukocyte aggregates in patients with occlusive arterial disease.

The diagnostic value and the effect of the therapy on the number and kind of platelet-leukocyte aggregates in 68 patients with arteriosclerosis obliterans of the lower limbs were investigated. The modified SILBERGLEIT'S method was used. 8 types of aggregates were found. The means number of aggregates in 20 healthy subjects was 8.2 but in 46 patients suffering from obliterative arteriosclerosis of the lower limbs this number was significantly higher, i.e. about 62. A significant decrease in the number of platelet-leukocyte aggregates in the group of 14 patients receiving HR orally 1800 mg daily and 16 patients receiving HR intravenously 2000 mg daily was found. In 16 persons a lower HR dose (orally 900 mg daily and intravenously 500 mg daily) did not influence the number of rosettes. In 22 patients receiving nicotinic acid (orally 900 mg daily, intramuscularly 600 mg daily) no significant changes in the number of rosettes was observed.