Platelet survival time in patients with hypoxemia and pulmonary hypertension

Abstract

Platelet survival time (autologous labeling with 51chromium) was measured in 63 patients in order to evaluate the role of platelets in the thromboembolic complications of patients with hypoxemia and pulmonary hypertension. Thirty eight of these patients had chronic obstructive airways disease; 13, primary pulmonary hypertension; 7, recurrent pulmonary embolism; 4, the Eisenmenger syndrome; and 1, multiple pulmonary arteriovenous fistula. Forty three patients were hypoxemic and 41 (95%) had shortened platelet survival. Platelet survival was weakly associated with arterial oxygen tension (r = 0.50), but not with the arterial carbon dioxide tension or the level of pulmonary artery pressure. Sulfinpyrazone lengthened platelet survival in 12 of 24 (50%) treated patients but this drug did not alter either arterial oxygen tension, arterial carbon dioxide tension, or pulmonary artery pressure. The results suggest that hypoxemia is associated with shortened platelet survival time and that platelets may, therefore, be involved in the thromboembolic complications that develop in patients with hypoxemia.