Arteriovenous-Shunt Thrombosis

The effects of sulfinpyrazone and a placebo on the incidence of thrombosis of arteriovenous shunts was investigated in a double-blind study in 52 patients on chronic hemodialysis over a six-month period. Thrombi occurred in 86 per cent of patients on placebo and 50 per cent of those on sulfinpyrazone (p<0.01). The incidence of thrombosis was reduced from 0.76 thrombi per patient month in the placebo group to 0.18 thrombi per patient month in the sulfinpyrazone group (p<0.001). Venous-shunt revisions were required in 48 per cent of patients given placebo and in only 16 per cent of those receiving sulfinpyrazone (p<0.05). Side effects were minimal and necessitated withdrawal from the study in only one patient. This study supports the results of animal experiments showing that sulfinpyrazone decreases thrombus formation the high-flow systems. (N Engl J Med 290:304–306, 1974)