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1. In view of the importance of 5-hydroxytryptamine in coronary thrombosis, we wanted to know whether a potentially protective decrease in platelet 5-hydroxytryptamine could be achieved by treatment with an inhibitor of 5-hydroxytryptamine uptake, fluoxetine. 2. We studied 15 patients treated for psychiatric indications with fluoxetine, and compared the findings with those obtained with blood from 18 patients treated with amitriptyline and 13 controls previously treated for affective disorders. 3. Platelet-rich plasma 5-hydroxytryptamine levels were significantly decreased in the fluoxetine group (P < 0.005) but not in the amitriptyline group compared with the control group. 4. Collagen-induced aggregation in whole blood anticoagulated with hirudin was measured by sequential single platelet counting. The contribution of 5-hydroxytryptamine was assessed from the effect of adding the 5-hydroxytryptamine specific antagonist ICI 170809. This contribution was significantly decreased in the fluoxetine group but not in the amitriptyline group compared with the control group. 5. It is concluded that platelet 5-hydroxytryptamine is indeed decreased by fluoxetine, and we would predict a protective effect of fluoxetine against coronary thrombosis.

SummaryWe determined changes in platelet aggregability following cardiopulmonary bypass, using optical aggregometry to assess macroaggregation in platelet-rich plasma (PRP), and platelet counting to assess microaggregation both in whole blood and PRP. Hirudin was used as the anticoagulant to maintain normocalcaemia.Microaggregation (%, median and interquartile range) in blood stirred with collagen (0.6 µg/ml) was only marginally impaired following bypass (91 [88, 93] at 10 min postbypass v 95 (92, 96] prebypass; n = 22), whereas macroaggregation (amplitude of response; cm) in PRP stirred with collagen (1.0µg/ml) was markedly impaired (9.5 [8.0, 10.8], n = 41 v 13.4 [12.7,14.3], n = 10; p <0.0001). However, in PRP, despite impairment of macroaggregation (9.1 [8.5, 10.1], n = 12), microaggregation was near-maximal (93 [91, 94]), as in whole blood stirred with collagen. In contrast, in aspirin-treated patients (n = 14), both collagen-induced microaggregation in whole blood (49 [47, 52]) and macroaggregation in PRP (5.1 [3.8, 6.6]) were more markedly impaired, compared with control (both p <0.001).Similarly, in PRP, macroaggregation with ristocetin (1.5 mg/ml) was also impaired following bypass (9.4 [7.2, 10.7], n = 38 v 12.4 [10.0, 13.4]; p <0.0002, n = 20), but as found with collagen, despite impairment of macroaggregation (7.2 [3.5,10.9], n = 12), microaggregation was again near-maximal (96 [93,97]). The response to ristocetin was more markedly impared after bypass in succinylated gelatin (Gelo-fusine) treated patients (5.6 [2.8, 8.6], n = 17; p <0.005 v control), whereas the response to collagen was little different (9.3 v 9.5). In contrast to findings with collagen in aspirin-treated patients, the response to ristocetin was little different to that in controls (8.0 v 8.3). Impairment of macroaggregation with collagen or ristocetin did not correlate with the duration of bypass or the platelet count, indicating that haemodilution is not a contributory factor.In conclusion: (1) Macroaggregation in PRP, as determined using optical aggregometry, is specifically impaired following bypass, and this probably reflects impairment of the build-up of small aggregates into larger aggregates. (2) Impairment of aggregate growth and consolidation could contribute to the haemostatic defect following cardiac surgery.

(1) 5-HT contributes to collagen induced aggregate growth and 5-HT2 receptor antagonism with ICI 170809 retards the rate of growth. (2) This could explain the efficacy of 5-HT2 antagonists in limiting coronary thrombosis despite the limited role of 5-HT in primary aggregation.