PLATELET ACTIVATION AND INTERACTION WITH LEUKOCYTES IN PATIENTS WITH SEPSIS OR MULTIPLE ORGAN FAILURE

This study focuses on the role of platelet membrane glycoproteins and platelet-leucocyte adhesion in patients with sepsis and multiple organ failure (MOF). Specifically, the study raises the following issues: ( 1) the influence of sepsis and MOF on platelet activation as assessed by surface expression of platelet membrane glycoproteins GPIIb-IIIa an d thrombospondin; and (2) the effect of sepsis and MOF on platelet adh esion to circulating leucocytes. In addition, platelet activation and platelet-leucocyte adhesion are evaluated according to clinical outcom e. Forty-five patients with suspected sepsis or MOF were evaluated by intensive care scoring systems (APACHE II and Elebute) to assess sever ity of disease. Flow cytometric techniques were used to examine platel et membrane expression of various adhesion molecules on circulating pl atelets and the appearance of platelet specific antigen (CD41) on leuc ocytes as an index of platelet-leucocyte adhesion. The results were co mpared with severity of disease and according to outcome in patients. Twenty-eight patients of the total study population were septic and 17 were non-septic. Twenty-two of the 28 septic patients suffered from s evere MOF (APACHE II greater than or equal to 20) whereas in six septi c patients MOF was absent. Eleven of the non-septic group suffered fro m moderate MOF whereas in six, severe MOF was present. In septic patie nts fibrinogen receptor activity on platelets was significantly above normal values (P < 0.001). When MOF was present, thrombospondin surfac e expression on circulating platelets also increased significantly (P < 0.05). Concomitantly, platelet-leucocyte adhesion was increased in s epsis (P < 0.05) and decreased in patients with MOF (P < 0.05). Signif icant lower levels of circulating platelet-leucocyte aggregates occurr ed in non-survivors (P < 0.05). We conclude that sepsis is associated with increased surface expression of platelet adhesion molecules and a n increased occurrence of circulating platelet-leucocyte aggregates. T he decrease in circulating platelet-leucocyte aggregates in MOF might result from enhanced peripheral sequestration. An increased platelet-l eucocyte adhesion and sequestration might account for development of M OF in the course of sepsis.