INFLUENCE OF HEMORRHAGE AND BLOOD-TRANSFUSION ON HEMOSTASIS

The influence of haemorrhage and blood transfusion on primary haemosta sis, coagulation and fibrinolysis was investigated in rabbits. Acute l oss of 20% of the blood volume gave a significantly shortened coagulat ion time (Lee-White method) but no detectable change in fibrinolysis ( euglobulin clot lysis time) and primary haemostasis (primary haemostat ic plug formation time in transected arterioles in rabbit mesenteric m icrocirculation), Acute loss of 20% of blood volume followed by blood transfusion resulted in a prolonged coagulation time and also in a pro longed primary haemostatic plug formation time, but no change in fibri nolysis. It could be concluded that the haemorrhage did not affect the platelet-dependent primary haemostasis but resulted in a shortened co agulation time. Blood transfusion seemed to affect adversely both the primary haemostasis and the shortened coagulation time induced by haem orrhage.