Platelet cyclo-oxygenase activity in hemodialysis patients

Abstract

Platelet cyclo-oxygenase (PCO) activity was estimated by measuring the platelet malondialdehyde (MDA) production rate. After PCO was blocked by acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) intake, the PCO activity was measured serially until it restored its pre-ASA value. The time required for its complete ecovery indirectly indicates platelet life span. P CO activity was 12.9±1.9nmol/10⁹ platelets and 8.1±1.9nmol/10⁹ platlets and platelet life span was 10.3±0.9 days and 6.7±1.0 days in healthy volunteers and hemodialysis patients respectively. No significant difference in PCO activity was observed before and after hemodialysis. These results suggest that the platelet of hemodialysis patients were still unpaired and was not improved by dialysis therapy.