OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of Salvia Miltiorrhiza Liguspyragine Hydrochloride and Glucose Injection (, SLGI) on the expression of platelet membrane receptors proteinase-activated receptor-1 (PAR1) and proteinase-activated receptor-4 (PAR4) in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients on chronic haemodialysis (HD).

METHODSEighty-six ESRD patients on HD (treated group) were treated with SLGI, 7 days as one therapeutic course, for two successive courses. The previous therapies were unchanged. Flow cytometry was used to assess the expression of platelet PAR1 and PAR4 in the patients, and turbidity method was used to determine the platelet maximum aggregation rate (MAR). Meanwhile, renal function was measured. The final data were compared with those before treatment and with those in the normal control group (54 healthy subjects).

RESULTSCompared with the normal control group, the expressions of PAR1 and PAR4 and platelet MAR in ESRD patients on HD was significantly higher before treatment (P=0.001, P=0.006, and P=0.008); after treatment with SLGI, the above indices in patients were remarkably decreased (P=0.036 and P=0.046), except PAR4 (P=0.067), but still higher than those in the normal control group, however, it was not statistically significant.

CONCLUSIONS(1) The overexpression of PAR1 and PAR4 might lead to increased platelet aggregation and this could be one of the reasons for the thrombotic events in ESRD patients on HD. (2) SLGI was able to down-regulate the expression of PAR1 in ESRD patients on HD, improve platelet function, and regulate platelet activation.