AGGREGATION AND SIZE OF PLATELETS IN CHILDREN WITH BURN DISEASE

Abstract

Introduction. One of the main factors involved in the pathogenesis of burn disease consists in the disturbance of microcirculation and haemostasis, caused by increased platelet aggregation. Mechanisms underlying the enhancement of platelet aggregation are poorly understood. Main results were obtained for adult patients at the onset of the burn disease, with no similar data on paediatric patients being available. There is evidence of a relationship between the size of platelets (MPV) and their functionality.Aim. To undertake a study of spontaneous and ADP-induced platelet aggregation and their size in children with burn disease.Materials and methods. We studied the aggregation and size of platelets in children aged 3–17 years, in whom burn areas covered 10–70 % of the body surface at the onset of the disease and before discharge. Spontaneous platelet aggregation was analysed under conditions of induced shear flow, whereas ADP-induced aggregation was studied employing a turbidimetric method. The study of platelet sizes was carried out using a conductometric method.Results. Spontaneous platelet aggregation increases significantly in children with burn disease. The integrated optical density of the formed aggregates, their area and perimeter were estimated for the first time. These indicators remained elevated even after burn wounds had been completely closed. In burn disease, changes in ADP-induced platelet aggregation were multidirectional in nature. Mean platelet volume (MPV) was increased during the acute period of burn disease, decreased during the period of toxaemia, and normalised by the time of patients’ discharge. Changes in MPV did not affect the aggregation properties of platelets. There was no correlation between the degree of aggregation and the severity of hyperfibrinogenemia. The blood of burn patients contained a large number of activated platelets, which was the reason for the increase in their spontaneous aggregation, not requiring the participation of exogenous inducers.Conclusion. An increase in spontaneous platelet aggregation was observed in children after a thermal injury, which remained elevated until the burn wounds were completely closed. A significant increase in the number of activated platelets constituted the reason for the increase in spontaneous platelet aggregation.Conflict of interest: the authors declare no confl ict of interest.Financial disclosure: the study had no sponsorship.