The influence of platelets, plasma and red blood cells on functional haemostatic assays

Louise Bochsen, Pär I. Johansson, Annemarie Thuri Kristensen, Gedske Daugaard, Sisse Rye Ostrowski

    68 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Functional whole blood haemostatic assays are used increasingly to guide transfusion therapy and monitor medical treatment and are also applied for in-vitro evaluations of the haemostatic potential of stored platelets. We investigated how the cellular and plasmatic elements, both isolated and combined, influenced the two methodologically different assays, thrombelastography (TEG) and impedance aggregometry (Multiplate). Platelet-rich plasma (200 × 10/l) or pure plasma (0 platelets), with and without added red blood cells (RBCs), hematocrit 0, 0.15 or 0.29, were produced in vitro from platelet concentrates, fresh frozen plasma and stored RBC. Pure platelets were investigated by removing plasma components from platelet concentrates by diafiltration against the platelet storage solution Intersol. Plasma was readded by diafiltration against plasma in Intersol. Haemostatic function was evaluated by TEG and Multiplate. In the TEG, increasing amounts of RBC reduced clot strength and clot kinetics (α-angle), most markedly in plasma/RBC without platelets. In contrast, RBC in a platelet concentrate matrix enhanced Multiplate aggregation in response to weak agonists (ADP and arachidonic acid). Furthermore, removing plasma from platelet concentrates eliminated the TEG response and diminished the Multiplate aggregation response, but readding plasma to the pure platelet concentrates restored the response. Each of the elements in whole blood, plasma, platelets and RBC, affected the Multiplate and TEG results differently. The results emphasize that the concentrations of all cellular and plasmatic components in whole blood should be taken into account when interpreting results obtained by TEG and multiplate.

    Original languageEnglish
    JournalBlood Coagulation and Fibrinolysis
    Volume22
    Issue number3
    Pages (from-to)167-175
    Number of pages9
    ISSN0957-5235
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - Apr 2011

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'The influence of platelets, plasma and red blood cells on functional haemostatic assays'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this