Adnormal platelet count and aggregability in bilateral cortical necrosis; A case study

Abstract

A case of bilateral cortical necrosis (BCN) was reported because of her abnormal platelet count and aggregability. She was 26 years old primipara.In her past history, at the age of 11, she was operated because of papillary adenocarcinoma of the thyroid gland, when no abnormal bleeding was reported.After cesarean section, atonic hemorrhage occurred and anuria developed. Because BCN was suspected heparin and urokinase therapy were started (later, patchy BCN was verified by renal biopsy). Uremia was controlled by hemodialysis (3/week). Platelet count (Plt.) increased gradually to normal level within a week. After heparin cessation, Plt. continued to increase and exceeded 60×104/mm3. In spite of thrombocytosis, bleeding time (BT) was prolonged to more than 15 min. On 31st hospital day when Plt. was 40×104/mm3and BT more than 15 min., platelet aggregability was investigated by screen filtration pressure (SFP) method (normal range: 264.9±14.3mmHg when induced by 3μM ADP). Her aggregability was no more than 20mmHg. On 34th hospital day, she was attacked by generalized convulsion and tracheotomy was done. Despite 17 units of blood transfusion bleeding was not discontinued. Therfore, 6 units of packed platelet were transfused and bleeding was dramatically stopped within 2 hours. After this episode, BT was normalized while thrombocytosis persisted. On 59th hospital day when Plt. showed 48.1×104/mm3 and BT was 3.5min., platelet aggregability was investigated by SEP method and optical density (O. D.) method. Using SFP method 3μM ADP induced aggregability was 400mmHg. By O. D. method, 10μM ADP induced maximum aggregability (ADP max) was 32.8% (normal 70.2±2.6), 1μg/ml adrenaline induced maximum aggregability (adrenaline max) 90.8% (normal 40.6±4.0), and 1mg/ml collagen induded maximum aggregability (collagen max) 69.6% (normal 74.8±5.6), respectively.She discharged on 14th hospital day, when her creatinine clearance was 17L/day, BUN 31mg/dl, and creatinine 3.3mg/dl, and conservative management was indicated. On 178 th day after BCN, when Plt. revealed 27.6×104/mm3 and was 3min., platelet aggregability was investigated again. Using SFP method, 3μM ADP induced aggregability was 390mmHg, while by O. D. method, ADP max was 63.2%, adrenalin max 98.5%, and collagen max 82.4%, respectively.Throughout her clinical course, fibrin degradation products were 40μg/ml or less, fibrinogen 370-900mg/dl, and euglobulin lysis time 24 hours or more. CB-PC and cephalothin, which were administered when platelet aggregability decreased, were investigated in vitro by O. D. method, with no effect to platelet aggregability being found.