OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of small dosage aspirin on platelet biochemical indexes in patients with cardio-cerebrovascular diseases and the intervening action of Naoxintong (NXT).

METHODSThe blood levels of P-selectin (P), thrombin B2 (TXB2), and platelet aggregation (PAG) induced by arachidonic acid (AA) and adenosine diphosphate (ADP) were determined in 145 patients with cardio-cerebrovascular diseases (diabetes mellitus, hypertension, coronary heart disease and cerebral infarction), after they were medicated with aspirin 100 mg per day for 7 days. Then they were randomly assigned to the aspirin group and the NXT group Both groups took aspirin 100 mg per day continually, but to patients in the NXT group, NXT 9 tablets per day was given additionally. The blood levels of above-mentioned biochemical indexes were re-examined 1 month after medication.

RESULTSThe first determination showed the plasma level of P-selectin and TXB2 concentration were positively correlated with PAG, either induced by AA (r = 0.449, P < 0.01 and r = 0.576, P < 0.01) or by ADP (r = 0.525, P < 0.01; r = 0.501, P < 0.01). Positive correlation also showed between plasma level of P-selectin and TXB2 (r = 0.610, P < 0.01). There was no significant difference of all the three indexes between the two groups (P > 0.05). Re-examination showed that levels of the 3 indexes significantly decreased in both groups (P < 0.01), and all were lower in the NXT group than in the aspirin group respectively (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse reaction between two groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe anti-platelet effect of one-week administration of aspirin for patients with cardio-cerebrovascular diseases can not be optimal, the combination with NXT could enhance the effect without increase of adverse reaction.