THE BLEEDING TENDENCY OF PROGRESSIVE RENAL FAILURE IS NOT ASSOCIATED WITH DEFECTIVE PLATELET AGGREGATION

Abstract

The bleeding tendency of uraemia may be related to reduction by anaemia of erythrocyte/platelet interaction, toxic inhibition of platelet aggregation and abnormal von Willebrand Factor (vWF) mediated platelet adhesion. Our aim in this study was to determine at what stage of renal failure bleeding time becomes prolonged and to investigate the mechanisms involved.We have measured bleeding time (Simplate II), plasma levels of fibrinogen and vWF, and ex-vivo platelet responsiveness in 31 patients with chronic renal failure (CRF) of various degrees of severity and compared them with values obtained in 22 healthy controls. No patient was dialysed, nephrotic or suffering from immunological renal disease. Patients were divided into mild (plasma creatinine <300 umol/1), n=10, moderate (300-600 umol/1), n=14, or severe (>600 umol/1), n=7, CRF.Bleeding time became significantly prolonged only in severe CRF (p<0.005). Haematocrit fell as renal failure advanced, and correlated with bleeding time (r=0.40, p<0.05). Platelet counts were normal. Platelet aggregation in response to ristocetin (mediated by vWF) and ADP increased progressively (p<0.005 in severe CRF), as did spontaneous aggregation (p<0.005 in severe CRF). This was associated with an increase in plasma vWF and fibrinogen (p<0.005 in severe CRF). Collagen induced aggregation was slightly, but not significantly increased. Thromboxane (TxB2) generation in clotting blood was the only measurement that showed a reduced platelet response (p<0.025 in severe CRF).In summary, a bleeding tendency develops late in the course of progressive CRF when plasma creatinine has risen to at least 600 umol/1. Platelet aggregation is enhanced rather than reduced and platelet interaction with vWF is not defective. Anaemia appears more important than abnormal platelet aggregation in mediating uraemic bleeding, although reduced serum TxB2 generation suggests a defect in platelet response to endogenous thrombin which may also contribute. Increased platelet aggregation and fibrinogen concentrations might promote glomerular thrombosis and contribute to the progression of CRF.