Platelet aggregation and prostaglandin metabolites in the blood of patients with ischaemic heart disease during antiarrhythmic treatment.

The influence of antiarrhythmic drugs (oral lidocaine, palpitine, Etacizine) on blood platelet aggregation and prostaglandin metabolites was studied in 91 patients with ischaemic heart disease. Lidocaine showed a positive, Etacizine a negative, and palpitine no effect on platelet aggregation. There was no uniform effect of lidocaine on prostaglandin metabolites; it increased the prostacycline and decreased the thromboxane levels. Palpitine increased both prostacyclin and thromboxane levels, whereas Etacizine decreased both metabolites, especially prostacyclin.