Faculty Bibliography

Macrolide antibiotics inhibit the metabolism of hydroxymethylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors (statins) that may result in myopathy and rhabdomyolysis. We report the first case of rhabdomyolysis related to the administration of clarithromycin without concurrent use of other medications. Inhibition of cytochrome P450 could be one of the potential causative mechanisms of myopathy in our case. Clinicians should be aware of this potential adverse effect of a widely used drug.

A new method for platelet labeling based on binding of monoclonal antibody to human platelets has been suggested in this study. Monoclonal antibody VM16a against membrane glycoproteins IIb-IIIa was labeled by 125I and then incubated with platelets. About 70% of added antibody was bound when it was used at the concentrations corresponding to the linear part of the concentration curve (0.5 and 1.0 micrograms/ml). Due to high efficiency of binding 125I-VM16a-labeled platelets were used for the measurement of adhesion/aggregation to the substrate in platelet-rich plasma without washing of the free label. Experiments with washed platelets double labeled with 51Cr and 125I-VM 6a showed high correlation between the data obtained with both labels. The method of platelet labeling has been applied for the assessment of drug action on platelet adhesion/aggregation. Measurements were performed in platelet-rich plasma and adhesion/aggregation was stimulated by ADP and analogue of thromboxane A2, U46619. It was shown/that antianginal drug trapidil strongly inhibited and antiatherogenic drug probucol did not affect platelet adhesion/aggregation stimulated by both agonists.