Ristocetin

Ristocetin

Ristocetin is an antibiotic that was discovered in the 1950s. It is produced by the bacterium Nocardia lurida. Ristocetin is no longer used as an antibiotic due to its high toxicity, but it is still used in medical research and diagnostics, particularly in the study of von Willebrand disease.

History

Ristocetin was first isolated in 1956 from Nocardia lurida, a type of actinobacteria. It was initially used as an antibiotic to treat Staphylococcus infections, but its use was discontinued due to severe side effects, including nephrotoxicity and thrombocytopenia.

Medical Use

Despite its toxicity, ristocetin has found a niche in medical research. It is used in the ristocetin cofactor assay, a diagnostic test for von Willebrand disease. This disease is a genetic disorder that can lead to excessive bleeding. The ristocetin cofactor assay measures the activity of von Willebrand factor, a protein that is necessary for blood clotting.

Mechanism of Action

Ristocetin works by causing platelets to clump together, or aggregate. It does this by binding to the von Willebrand factor, which in turn binds to platelets. This is the basis for the ristocetin cofactor assay: if the patient's blood does not aggregate in the presence of ristocetin, it suggests that the von Willebrand factor is not functioning properly.

Side Effects

The side effects of ristocetin include nephrotoxicity and thrombocytopenia. Nephrotoxicity is damage to the kidneys, while thrombocytopenia is a decrease in the number of platelets in the blood. These side effects are the reason why ristocetin is no longer used as an antibiotic.

See Also

• Von Willebrand disease
• Von Willebrand factor
• Nocardia

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