State of the blood platelet link of hemostasis and microcirculation in patients with ischemic heart disease during plasmapheresis treatment

: The paper provides the results of studies into plasmapheresis-induced changes in the thrombocytic link of hemostasis and microcirculation in 40 patients with coronary heart disease (CHD). Repeated sessions of plasmapheresis (P) were found to produce an inhibitory effect on platelet aggregation and to improve microcirculation in CHD patients with signs of increased platelet functional activity. In CHD patients with low platelet functional activity, the first P session was demonstrated to cause an increase in platelet functional activity whereas the subsequent sessions inhibited platelet aggregation. No significant microcirculatory improvement was seen in this group of patients. Heparin and rheopolyglucin given to control patients exerted no substantial effect on the thrombocytic link of hemostasis and microcirculation.