Ticlopidine improves the enhanced erythrocyte aggregability in patients with cerebral infarction.

Abstract

We examined the effect of ticlopidine hydrochloride on the enhanced erythrocyte aggregability in 14 patients with cerebral infarction during the chronic phase (over 1 month after onset). Ticlopidine (100 mg BID) was administered for 8 weeks. We measured the rate of erythrocyte aggregation (aggregability), using the whole-blood erythrocyte aggregometer that we developed, before and at 4 and 8 weeks after the initiation of ticlopidine administration. Concomitant measurements were made of such blood factors as the hematocrit, albumin-globulin ratio, and fibrinogen concentration. The erythrocyte aggregation rates before and at 4 and 8 weeks after were 0.147 +/- 0.017/s, 0.138 +/- 0.019/s, and 0.133 +/- 0.017/s, respectively. The erythrocyte aggregation rates at 4 and 8 weeks were significantly lower (P < .05 by Bonferroni's modified t test) than those before ticlopidine administration. At 4 and 8 weeks after the initiation of ticlopidine treatment, the hematocrit value and concentration of fibrinogen were also significantly (P < .05) reduced. Our results suggest that ticlopidine can improve the enhanced erythrocyte aggregability in patients with cerebral infarction during the chronic phase.