Inflammation, oxidative stress and platelet activation in aspirin-treated critical limb ischaemia: beneficial effects of iloprost

Thromb Haemost. 2011 Feb;105(2):321-8. doi: 10.1160/TH10-07-0499. Epub 2010 Nov 23.

Abstract

Platelets critically contribute to atherothrombosis and worsening ischaemia in patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD), eventually leading to critical limb ischaemia (CLI). Furthermore, persistent platelet activation despite antiplatelet therapy has been reported in this setting. The prostacyclin analogue iloprost is currently recommended in CLI patients for its effects in relieving symptoms by promoting local perfusion. In this study, we investigated the effects of iloprost infusion on urinary 11-dehydro-TXB₂ and 8-iso-PGF(₂α) excretion rate, as in vivo indexes of thromboxane-dependent platelet activation and lipid peroxidation, respectively, and on platelet-derived proinflammatory sCD40L and nitric oxide bioavailability in 44 patients with CLI while on chronic treatment with low-dose aspirin. Daily iloprost infusion for one-week significantly decreased urinary 11-dehydro-TXB₂ [499 (277-807) vs. 380 (189-560) pg/mg creatinine, p < 0.0001] and 8-iso-PGF(₂α) [533 (316-842) vs. 334 (196-540) pg/mg creatinine, p < 0.0001] as well as plasma sCD40L [1540 (1005-3015) vs. 948 (845-2030) pg/ml, p < 0.0001]. Furthermore, a significant increase in plasma nitrate plus nitrite levels has been observed [26.8 (18.8-35.9) vs. 43.7 (33.0-75.5) μM, p < 0.0001]. A significant direct correlation was also found between urinary 8-iso-PGF(₂α) and 11-dehydro-TXB2 before and after iloprost treatment (Rho = 0.695, p < 0.0001). In conclusion, we report that a short-term course of iloprost is able to significantly reduce residual thromboxane biosynthesis, oxidative stress, endothelial dysfunction and platelet-derived inflammation in low-dose aspirin treated patients with CLI.

Publication types

  • Controlled Clinical Trial
  • Multicenter Study

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Aspirin / therapeutic use*
  • Biomarkers / blood
  • Biomarkers / urine
  • Blood Platelets / drug effects*
  • Blood Platelets / immunology
  • CD40 Ligand / blood
  • Chi-Square Distribution
  • Critical Illness
  • Dinoprost / analogs & derivatives
  • Dinoprost / urine
  • Drug Administration Schedule
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Iloprost / administration & dosage
  • Iloprost / therapeutic use*
  • Inflammation Mediators / blood*
  • Infusions, Intravenous
  • Ischemia / blood
  • Ischemia / drug therapy*
  • Ischemia / immunology
  • Ischemia / urine
  • Italy
  • Lipid Peroxidation / drug effects
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Nitric Oxide / blood
  • Oxidative Stress / drug effects*
  • Platelet Activation / drug effects*
  • Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / administration & dosage
  • Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / therapeutic use*
  • Thromboxane B2 / analogs & derivatives
  • Thromboxane B2 / urine
  • Time Factors
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Inflammation Mediators
  • Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors
  • CD40 Ligand
  • 8-epi-prostaglandin F2alpha
  • Nitric Oxide
  • Thromboxane B2
  • 11-dehydro-thromboxane B2
  • Dinoprost
  • Iloprost
  • Aspirin