title: The effect of air and nitrox divings on platelet activation tested by flow cytometry.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Nitrogen (N2) microbubbles activate the blood platelets and coagulaltion system.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Breathing nitrox rather than air may reduce the level of platelet activation associated with decompression.
  
  
  METHODS
  We tested platelet counts and the expression of functional membrane molecules on platelets in 10 divers subjected to saturated compression in nitrox at 4 ATA and in 9 divers subjected to compression in air at 2.8 ATA. Blood samples were taken before and immediately after the test. We measured the percentages of microplatelets, platelet aggregates and platelets bearing the activation marker C-D62P, and bearing molecules forming receptors for fibrinogen (CD61) and for von Willebrand factor (CD42b) using flow cytometry and specific monoclonal antibodies. Symptoms for DCS were also evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  DCS symptoms were not noted in either the nitrox or air group. In both groups we observed a marked increase in the percentage of activated platelets bearing CD62P molecules and an enhanced number of microplatelets and a marked drop in the platelets count in the blood of (divers in the air group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In all divers we observed certain changes in the platelet system, nevertheless decompression in nitrox resulted in a lesser degree of platelet activation. Though this study cannot exclude platelet activation as an etiological factor in DCS, the findings suggest platelet activation can occur in the absence of observable sign of DCS. Thus, platelet activation may be too sensitive a marker to serve as a predictor of DCS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathophysiology, Military Medical Academy, Lódź, Poland.
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Baj
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Olszański
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Majewska
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Konarski
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003665:Decompression Sickness / Q000503:physiopathology; D004242:Diving / Q000502:physiology*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D009326:Naval Medicine; D009584:Nitrogen; D010100:Oxygen; D015539:Platelet Activation
chemical_list: C041364:nitrox; D009584:Nitrogen; D010100:Oxygen