OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of Xiaoyu Zhixue Tablet (XYZXT) on the expression of platelet membrane glycoprotein (GP) Ib/IX/V complex and GP I b alpha in patients with chronic renal failure (CRF) in early metaphase.

METHODSFifty-one patients with CRF in early metaphase (treated group) were treated with XYZXT, 3 months as the course of treatment for 2 courses. The previous therapies remained unchanged. Flow cytometry was used to assess the expression of platelet GP Ib/IX/V complex and GP Ib alpha in patients with CRF, and turbidity method was used to determine the platelet maximum aggregation rate (MAR), meanwhile the renal function was measured. The final data were compared with those before the treatment, and with those in the normal control group (31 healthy subjects).

RESULTSCompared with the normal control group, expressions of GP I b/IX/V complex and GP I b alpha, and platelet MAR in CRF patients were significantly lower (P=0.007, P=0.001, P=0.009) before the treatment; after the treatment with XYZXT, the above indexes in CRF patients were remarkably increased (P=0.033, P=0.026, P=0.045), but still lower than those in the normal control group, however, it was not statistically significant.

CONCLUSION(1) The expression of GP I b/IX/V complex in CRF patients of early metaphase was decreased, which lead to platelet aggregation dysfunction. This might be one of the reasons for the hemorrhagic trend in CRF. (2) XYZXT was able to upgrade expressions of GP I b/IX/V complex and GP I b alpha in CRF patients, improve platelet function and down-regulate platelet activation in patients with CRF.