Inhibition of Human Platelet Aggregation by the Proteolytic Effect of Streptokinase (SK). Role of the Factor VIII Related Antigen

Abstract

Defective ADP-induced platelet aggregation has been observed in patients treated with streptokinase. This same effect appears “in vitro” when adding SK to platelet rich plasma (PRP). Classic hemophilia and normal platelet poor plasmas (PPP) treated with SK inhibit the aggregation of washed platelets; plasmin-treated normal human serum also shows an inhibitory effect on platelet aggregation. However, von Willebrand SK-treated plasmas do not inhibit the aggregation of washed platelets. The same results appear when plasmas are previously treated with a rabbit antibody to human factor VIII.This confirms that the antiaggregating effect is mainly linked to the digested factor VIII related antigen.The inhibition of ADP-induced platelet aggregation has been proved in gel filtration-isolated and washed platelets from SK-treated PRP.Defective ristocetin-induced platelet aggregation has also been observed- This action does not appear in washed platelets from SK-treated PRP in presence of normal PPP, but it does in presence of SK-treated PPP, which suggests that the inhibition of the ristocetin-induced aggregation is due to the lack of factor VIII and not to the factor VIII-related products.Heparin, either “in vivo” or “in vitro”, has corrected the antiaggregating effect of SK.