Fig. 2
From: Histone-driven hypercoagulation contributes to the lethal triad of acute trauma-induced coagulopathy
Pro-coagulative effects of hypothermia, acidosis and dilution on platelets in whole blood. Whole blood (hWB) was incubated at 30° and 34° respectively and coagulopathic effects of hypothermia with and without Acidosis °II and 3:7 dilution (jonosteril) were compared with normothermic controls (CTRL). The middle panel displays absolute platelet counts, the lower panel shows counts normalized to hemoglobin concentration to subtract diluting effects. Hypothermia at 34 °C exhibited hypercoagulative effects comparable to °II acidosis. This effect was abrogated at severe hypothermia (30 °C). At mild hypothermia (34 °C), 3:7 dilution with crystalline solution caused a slight drop in platelet counts beyond the mere diluting effect, with in-tube clot formation in 1 sample. This effect was abolished at 30 °C. Acidosis at severe hypothermia caused a more consistent drop in platelets counts but less clotting-formation in tubes after 30 min, suggesting an impaired hemostatic capacity of hWB at lower temperatures. *p < 0.05; **p < 0.01; ***p < 0.001; ****p < 0.0001; ns: not significant. For better visibility, statistically non-significant differences were only marked, if of relevance for the experimental hypothesis.
