METABOLIC RESPONSE OF BLOOD-CELLS TO SYNTHETIC GRAFT-MATERIALS WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO A FLUOROMER-PASSIVATED-DACRON(R) GRAFT - AN IN-VITRO STUDY USING MICROCALORIMETRY

Microcalorimetry was used to study in vitro the metabolic response fro m human platelets and leukocytes when incubated with three different s ynthetic graft-materials. The graft to be studied primarily was Fluoro mer Passivated Dacron (FPD) which was compared with ePTFE and with a k nitted Teflon graft. A rapid increase in the metabolic activity of pla telets was observed followed by a steady-state for more than one hour while the platelet metabolism did not differ among the various graft-m aterials. Leukocytes incubated with FPD showed a high initial metaboli sm, with a peak after about 15 minutes. After 60 minutes the metabolic response had reached control values. ePTFE and Teflon grafts differed significantly from FPD, without causing any peak metabolic activity. It may be concluded that FPD and ePTFE grafts, as evaluated in vitro, activate platelets to the same extent while FPD causes a more extensiv e leukocyte activation. Whether these findings can be interpreted as d ifferences in thrombogenicity and inflammatory responses has not been proven, but seems probable. This in vitro method should make if possib le to further study human responses to synthetic materials a method po ssibly more reliable than animal experiments.