Platelet adhesiveness, thromboelastogram, prothrombin activity and partial thromboplastin time during treatment with flurbiprofen

SummaryThe inhibitory effect of flurbiprofen on platelet aggregation has been repeatedly and unanimously confirmed in a number of investigations. In view of the possible use of the drug for the prevention of thromboembolic complications, a clinical study was carried out to provide further elucidation on the behaviour of other parameters of blood coagulation, especially platelet adhesiveness and the thromboelastogram. The study was conducted in 25 female subjects of childbearing age (14 healthy volunteers, 9 patients under treatment with oestrogen/progestogen preparations, and 2 diabetics). After 15-days' treatment with flurbiprofen in a daily dose of 50 mg, it was not possible to discover any significant change in platelet adhesiveness, the thromboelastogram, the partial thromboplastin time, thrombocyte count or bleeding time in either the normal subjects or in the patients receiving oral contraceptive treatment. Nevertheless, in 1 of the 2 patients with diabetes mellitus, who had an abnormally high platelet count, a marked reduction in platelet adhesiveness was noted. It is anticipated that, by the use of special techniques, it may be possible with flurbiprofen also to demonstrate an inhibitory action on platelet adhesiveness in addition to its known inhibitory effect on agglutination.