In vitro effects of detergent sclerosants on fibrinolytic enzymes and inhibitors

Objective

To investigate the effects of Sodium Tetradecyl Sulphate (STS) and Polidocanol (POL) on fibrinolytic mechanisms.

Materials and methods

Measurements were done with serial dilutions of sclerosants in whole blood (WB), platelet rich (PRP) and platelet poor plasma (PPP). Control experiments were done in 5% bovine serum albumin (BSA), spiked with the enzyme/inhibitor. Plasminogen was measured with a chromogenic assay. Alpha-2-antiplasmin (AP) activity, plasmin-alpha-2-antiplasmin (PAP) complexes, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) activity, tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) total antigen, t-PA activity, t-PA/PAI-1 complexes, thrombin activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI) antigen and activated TAFI (TAFIa) were measured by ELISA.

Results

At high concentrations (> 0.3%), STS destroyed plasminogen, PAI-1, t-PA/PAI-1 complexes and total t-PA antigen but increased t-PA activity. At low concentrations (< 0.3%), both agents reduced PAP complexes while increasing AP activity. Low concentration STS increased PAI-1 activity, t-PA/PAI-1 complexes, TAFI and TAFIa. Low concentration POL mildly increased the total t-PA antigen and TAFI.

Conclusion

At low concentrations, both agents demonstrated a prothrombotic, antifibrinolytic (increase in PAI-1, total t-PA antigen, AP, TAFI and TAFIa) activity. At high concentrations, STS demonstrated non-prothrombotic (destruction of PAI-1, t-PA/PAI-1 complexes), antifibrinolytic (destruction of plasminogen, increase in AP) activity while POL had minimal effect.