Evolution of platelet activation parameters during septic shock in intensive care unit

During severe sepsis, platelet activation may induce disseminate microvascular thrombosis, which play a key role in critical organ failure. Crucially, most of the studies in this field have explored platelet-leukocyte interactions in animal models, or explored platelets under the spectrum of thrombocytopenia or disseminated intravascular coagulation and have not taken into account the complex interplay that might exist between platelets and leukocytes during human septic shock nor the kinetics of platelet activation. Here, we assessed platelet activation parameters at the admission of patients with sepsis to the intensive care unit (ICU) and 48 hours later. Twenty-two patients were enrolled in the study, thirteen (59.1%) of whom were thrombocytopenic. The control group was composed of twelve infection-free patients admitted during the study period. The activation parameters studied included platelet-leukocyte interactions, assessed by flow cytometry in whole blood, as well as membrane surface and soluble platelet activation markers measured by flow cytometry and dedicated ELISA kits. We also investigated platelet aggregation and secretion responses of patients with sepsis following stimulation, compared to controls. At admission, the level of circulating monocyte-platelet and neutrophil-platelet heterotypic aggregates was significantly higher in sepsis patients compared to controls and returned to a level comparable to controls or even below 48 hours later. Basal levels of CD...
Source: Current Awareness Service for Health (CASH) - Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news