Effects of beraprost sodium, an oral prostaglandin i2 analog, on hemostatic factors and inflammation in chronic peritoneal dialysis patients.

Beraprost sodium, an orally active prostaglandin I2 analog with vasodilatory, cytoprotective, antiplatelet, antithrombotic, and anti-inflammatory effects, 120 microg daily for 8 weeks, decreased plasma D-dimer, a marker of intravascular coagulation, and von Willebrand factor, a marker for endothelial injury, in 100 chronic peritoneal dialysis patients. Total cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein, apolipoprotein A1, apolipoprotein B, albumin, prealbumin, fibrinogen, troponin-T, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels were not changed. Three patients complained of headache and 1 patient experienced facial flushing; however, no serious adverse effects were observed. These results suggest that beraprost sodium is effective in partially reversing the thrombogenic coagulation profile and endothelial injury in chronic peritoneal dialysis patients.