EFFECT OF ŒSTROGENS ON HUMAN PLATELET BEHAVIOUR

Abstract Natural and synthetic œstrogens were administered to a group of male volunteers, and no change in their platelet-to-glass adhesiveness was observed. Platelet aggregation induced by A.D.P. and by noradrenaline was enhanced by all the agents whereas only the synthetic oestrogens produced an alteration in the electrophoretic response to A.D.P. This enhancement of A.D.P. sensitivity resembles that observed in women on oestrogen-containing oral contraceptives and in patients with arterial thrombosis.