The effect of percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty on haemostasis

Summary We followed the changes of the haemostatic parameters during and after PTCA. Ten patients (group 1) received standard therapy (heparin and aspirin) while another ten patients (group 2) received an adjunctive regimen (heparin, aspirin and a heparinoid, Na-pentosan polysulphate, PPS). The measured parameters were the following: F1+2, TAT, D-dimer, PAP, t-PA and PAI-1. We found a moderate increase in F1+2 and TAT at pre-PTCA in both groups. They slightly changed during the sampling period in patients belonging to group 1, however, they decreased in patients receiving adjunctive therapy. D-dimer, PAP, and PAI-1 remained in the normal range. The t-PA activities increased during the angioplasty in both groups. The mean activity was higher in patients receiving PPS. It seems that the adjunctive therapy had a favourable effect on the haemostatic balance, but we observed an enhanced bleeding tendency in patients belonging to group 2..