Key result
Intravenous epinephrine infusion increased labelled platelet concentration by 8% in asplenic men versus 41% in intact men, demonstrating a non-splenic platelet pool.
Why the study?
Does epinephrine infusion reveal a non-splenic platelet pool in asplenic humans compared to intact volunteers?
Does epinephrine infusion reveal a non-splenic platelet pool in asplenic humans compared to intact volunteers?
Absolute Event Rate: 8% vs 41%
The study demonstrates the presence of a small, epinephrine-sensitive non-splenic platelet pool in humans.
Suggests minor non-splenic platelet reserve in asplenia; hypothesis-generating for platelet kinetics and leaves clinical relevance open.
3 asplenic but otherwise healthy men, in whom autologous platelets had been labelled with radioactive sodium chromate, received i.v. infusions of epinephrine in a dose of 0.35 micrograms per kg per min over a period of 20 min. In response to these infusions an increase in the concentration of labelled platelets (average 8% over the basal value) was seen in all 3 subjects. In no case was the maximal increase in the venous haematocrit higher than 1%. Identical experiments were also carried out on 3 intact male volunteers. As compared to the asplenics, the mean maximal increase in platelet-bound radioactivity was considerably higher (41%). It is concluded that a small but significant epinephrine sensitive non-splenic platelet pool is present in humans.
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Vilén et al. (1980) studied Healthy (n=6). Epinephrine vs. Intact male volunteers was evaluated on Increase in the concentration of labelled platelets. Intravenous epinephrine infusion increased labelled platelet concentration by 8% in asplenic men versus 41% in intact men, demonstrating a non-splenic platelet pool.
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