6533b7dbfe1ef96bd1270193

RESEARCH PRODUCT

Vascular atherosclerotic disease: Evaluation of white blood cell rheology and metabolism after acute intravenous administration of defibrotide

subject

description

Defibrotide is a single-strand polydeoxyribonucleotide, obtained by controlled depolymerization of DNA extracted from mammalian organs. It stimulates vascular prostacyclin production and secretion (1-3) and enhances fibrinolysis (1, 4-6). Several clinical trials have evidentiated that defibrotide is effective in the prophylaxis of deep vein thrombosis and in the treatment of peripheral obliterative arterial disease (for a review see ref. 7). There are several reports concerning, in vitro and in vivo, the dose-dependent activity of defibrotide on the polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMN). From these results, the molecule influences the PMN adhesivity (8, 9) and especially PMN activation, with secondary decrease or inhibition of free radical (superoxide anion) synthesis (10, 11). Other authors point out that this molecule interferes with the leucocyte role in the genesis of thrombosis (12). There is, however, no information about the action of defibrotide on white blood cell (WBC) rheology. Considering all these [mdings, we studied the influence of defibrotide on WBC filtration, PMN membrane fluidity and cytosolic Ca2+ content in a group of subjects with vascular atherosclerotic disease (V AD).