Occurence and Evolution of in Vivo Platelet Release Phenomenon. Study in Severe Burns.

During the first post burn period (first and second week) the most severe cases showed evidence of a platelet storage pool deficiency, i.e. : no aggregation with ADP, decreased nucleotide content, reduced number of granules loaded with mepacrine (presence of non granulated platelets) and increase in the percentage of light platelets. During the second post burn period (3^rd to 5^th week) on the same patients and for the least severe cases, the abnormalities were found heterogeneous, suggesting evidence of a partial release phenomenon, Altough the platelet nucleotide content was reduced, quite a few “empty” platelets were found, there was no significant increase of light platelets.

These data indicate, with regard to the platelets, the presence of a partial release phenomenon during extensive peripheral destruction of platelets which can sometimes reach the state of a Storage Pool Dasease.