Mitigations in Selected Hemostatic Parameters in Administration of Graded Doses of Dexamethasone and Its Blockers on Wistar Rats

Abstract

, might be more potent and less likely to cause side-effects than any other known corticosteroid medication. This study investigated the possible changes in selected hemostatic parameters [clotting time, bleeding time, platelets count and fibrinogen level] in albino wistar rats, following administration of graded doses of Dex. Forty-two (42) male albino Wistar rats were randomly grouped into seven (7) of six (6) rats each. With Group A receiving normal diets (Control), Groups B – G were respectively given 0.1 mg/Kg of Dex, 0.3 mg/Kg of Dex, 0.1 mg/Kg of Dex + 33 mg/Kg of Ketokonazol (Keto), 0.3 mg/Kg of Dex + 33 mg/Kg of Keto, 0.1 mg/Kg of Dex + Vitamin (Vit.) E and 0.1 mg/Kg of Dex. + Vit E. following two-weeks administration period, rats were euthanized and blood samples obtained by cardiac puncture under diethyl ether to determine hemostatic parameters. One-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) revealed that Dex, in higher doses decreased bleeding and clotting time, with significant increase (p < .05) in platelet and fibrinogen counts. However, Vitamin E and Ketoconazole treatment reversed this effect by increasing bleeding and clotting time withdecreased fibrinogen levels and platelet count. Thus, study demonstrates that Dexamethasone affect hemostasis by significantly decreasing bleeding and clotting times, and also enhances hemostatic function with significant increase in fibrinogen and platelet count which may predispose to thrombotic disorders.