Molecular weight of hydroxyethyl starch molecules influences coagulation profile measured by thrombelastography.
BACKGROUND
The consensus about the ideal intravenous fluid in trauma patients remains open. However, hypertonic saline and hydroxyethyl starch (HES) seems to have advantages in terms of immuno-modulatory and haemodynamic effects. Nevertheless clotting abnormalities are frequently reported in association with the use of HES. We investigated the influence of light, medium and heavy molecular weight (MW) hydroxyethyl starch (HES) on coagulation in 29 healthy subjects.


METHODS
Ringer's lactate (RL) served as a control solution. Thrombelastography using Haemoscope's Thrombelastograph (TEG) hemostasis system was used to assess the effect of HES polymers and RL. TEG analysis was performed using recalcified native whole blood both with and without the addition of platelet activating factor IV (PAF IV) before and immediately after infusion of one of the solutions.


RESULTS
Infusion of RL or one of the three HES solutions exerts an anticoagulant effect as demonstrated by a increase in clot formation time (R) and a decrease in maximum amplitude (MA), and the angle. The addition of PAF IV reversed these changes.


CONCLUSIONS
This data indicate clear evidence of platelet activity per se or platelet interaction with the plasmatic coagulation system.
M
M
Felfernig
S
S
Virmani
M
M
Weintraud
U
U
Oberndorfer
M
M
Zimpfer
H
H
Veen
A M
AM
Blaicher
D000328:Adult; D001777:Blood Coagulation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006895:Hydroxyethyl Starch Derivatives / Q000737:chemistry*; D007552:Isotonic Solutions; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008970:Molecular Weight; D010972:Platelet Activating Factor / Q000494:pharmacology; D000077331:Ringer's Solution; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013916:Thrombelastography / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*
D006895:Hydroxyethyl Starch Derivatives; D007552:Isotonic Solutions; D010972:Platelet Activating Factor; D000077331:Ringer's Solution