Background. Monocytes - mononuclear white cells, apart from their versatile contribution in inflammatory and immunological processes, play an important role in disorders of the haemostasis system, which are the basis of the atherosclerosis progress. In a present study, an assessment of the influence of the active vessel agents - alprostadil and pentoxifylline therapy - on the ability of monocytes to release extrinsic pathway factors was carried out.
Material and methods. The study was performed on 30 men who suffered from peripheral arterial occlusive disease (stage II, according to Fontaine) hospitalized in the Department of Haematology, Medical Academy, Białystok. The patients were divided into two groups of 15 people each. Blood was collected before and after infusion of the study medicine. Monocytes were isolated from whole blood according to the methods of Böyum with the authors’ own modifications. The isolated monocytes were incubated in the RPMI-1640 medium in the presence of the lipopolysaccharide Eucherichia coli (LPS) at 37 ºC under 5% CO2 for 36 h. Tissue factor concentration (TF), factor VII activity and factor X concentration were assessed in the liquid of the incubated monocytes.
Results. Alprostadil infusion significantly decreased factor X release from the isolated monocytes. Pentoxifylline used intravenously significantly decreased the release of factors VII and X. In the present study, the influence of the study medicine on the ability of monocytes to release the tissue factor was not recorded.
Conclusions. Our study demonstrated that intravenous infusion of alprostadil and pentoxifylline in patients suffering from occlusive disease significantly decreased the ability of monocytes to release extrinsic pathway factors - factor VII and X. The obtained results indicate a novel anti-atherosclerotic quality of alprostadil and pentoxifylline.