Activaed Platelets and Platelet Function in Traumatic, Septic and Hemorrhagic Pre-Shock Conditions

Subcutaneous and other tissues contain a lipoprotein which induces instant morphologic platelet changes (sphering and pseudopode formation), which can be evaluated using phase contrast microscopy. Such material might get into circulation in different forms of shock and in pre-shock conditions. Besides measuring the extent of morphologic platelet changes with time after blood sampling the following parameters were investigated at 12-24 h intervals in 13 patients with different forms of shock: platelet-count and -spreading, beta-thromboglobulin, PTT, fibrinogen, thrombin-, reptilase-, and thrombincoagulase-time, fibrinogen degradation products, antithrombin III, heparin cofactor and plasminogen.

In patients with septicaemia and septic shock activated platelets were found increased in each case. In other forms of shock and pre-shock the findings were not as uniform. Beta-thromboglobulin was increased during the first phase of traumatic shock with decreasing levels during the following days. Generally the platelet number was reduced and spreading was inhibited. The increased activity of platelets in septic and other shock conditions may be caused by tissue lipoproteins in the circulation.