Thromb Haemost 2000; 83(01): 54-59
DOI: 10.1055/s-0037-1613757
Commentary
Schattauer GmbH

Hemostatic Parameters and Platelet Activation Marker Expression in Cyanotic and Acyanotic Pediatric Patients Undergoing Cardiac Surgery in the Presence of Tranexamic Acid

Elena Levin
1   Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
,
John Wu
,
Dana V. Devine
1   Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
,
John Alexander
,
Clayton Reichart
2   Department of Anaesthesiology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
,
Suvro Sett
3   Department of Surgery, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
,
Michael Seear
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Received December 1998

Accepted after resubmission 27 August 1999

Publication Date:
06 December 2017 (online)

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Summary

We have investigated hemostatic parameters including platelet activation in 56 pediatric patients with or without cyanosis undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and cardiac surgery to repair congenital defects. Patients were participants in a study assessing the effects of tranexamic acid on surgery-related blood loss. Parameters monitored included blood loss, prothrombin F1.2, thrombin-antithrombin complexes, t-PA, PAI-1, plasminogen, fibrin D-dimer, and plasma factor XIII. Additionally, flow cytometry monitored platelet degranulation (P-selectin or CD63), as well as surface-bound fibrinogen, von Willebrand factor and factor XIIIa. Cyanotic patients had evidence of supranormal coagulation activation as both fibrin D-dimer and PAI-1 levels were elevated prior to surgery. While the extent of expression of Pselectin or CD63 was not informative, platelet-associated factor XIIIa was elevated in cyanotic patients at baseline. In both patient groups, CPB altered platelet activation state and coagulation status irrespective of the use of tranexamic acid.