Summary
We studied the effects of stimulated skin mast cells on bleeding time and thrombin
generation which was measured using prothrombin fragment F 1+2 (F 1+2) and thrombin-antithrombin-III-complex
(TAT). In 10 patients with urticaria pigmentosa (chronic cutaneous mast cell accumulation)
the mean bleeding time was significantly prolonged in wounds made on urticaria pigmentosa
lesions vs. normal skin (460 ± 34 vs. 342 ± 27 s, p = 0.005). In 10 atopic subjects
skin incisions were made on prick-tested sites 30, 60, 120 and 240 min after administration
of an allergen (acute mast cell stimulation), histamine or vehicle. The mean bleeding
time was significantly prolonged at all time points, being maximal at 120 min (60%
prolonged) in wounds made on allergen-stimulated skin areas (p <0.01) compared with
histamine or vehicle sites. Administration of allergen or histamine lowered the TAT
concentration in the bleeding-time blood. Furthermore, TAT and F 1+2 levels in the
bleeding-time blood were lower at 60, 120 and 240 min after allergen or histamine
application in comparison with samples collected at 30 min. We conclude that skin
mast cells can regulate primary hemostasis by prolonging bleeding time and by inhibiting
thrombin generation.