Thromb Haemost 1981; 45(02): 150-153
DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1650153
Original Article
Schattauer GmbH Stuttgart

Plasma and Platelet Lipid Composition and Platelet Aggregation by Arachidonic Acid in Women on the Pill

B Sadurska
The Mario Negri Institute for Pharmacological Research, Milan, Italy
,
M T Tacconi
The Mario Negri Institute for Pharmacological Research, Milan, Italy
,
G di Minno
The Mario Negri Institute for Pharmacological Research, Milan, Italy
,
M C Roncaglioni
The Mario Negri Institute for Pharmacological Research, Milan, Italy
,
J Pangrazzi
The Mario Negri Institute for Pharmacological Research, Milan, Italy
,
M B Donati
The Mario Negri Institute for Pharmacological Research, Milan, Italy
,
A Bizzi
The Mario Negri Institute for Pharmacological Research, Milan, Italy
,
M J Silver
The Mario Negri Institute for Pharmacological Research, Milan, Italy
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Received 14 November 1980

Accepted 22 January 1981

Publication Date:
26 July 2018 (online)

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Summary

Sensitivity to induction of platelet aggregation by arachidonic acid (AA) and changes in plasma and platelet polyunsaturated fatty acid distribution were studied in seven women before and after six months of oral contraceptive (OC) treatment with a combination of d-norgestrel (0.25 mg) and ethinylestradiol (0.05 mg). Special interest was focused on AA because certain metabolites of this fatty acid induce platelets to aggregate and are considered to play a crucial role in thromboembolic processes.

In plasma, AA concentrations increased slightly, but significantly, in both the free fatty acid (FFA) and phospholipid fractions; in platelets AA increased in the phospholipid and neutral lipid fractions. The threshold aggregating concentration (TAC) of AA was significantly reduced in platelets of women after six months of OC treatment (0.65 ± 0.08 versus 0.30 ±0.04 mM). This suggests that changes in platelet fatty acid composition may be associated with in vitro changes in platelet sensitivity to AA. Such changes may contribute to the thrombotic tendency associated with OC treatment.