Blood, 1961, Vol. 17, No. 3, pp. 267-281.
© 1961 American Society of Hematology, Inc.
Platelet and Fibrinogen Survival in Normal and Abnormal
States of Coagulation
EDWARD ADELSON 1,
JACK J. RHEINGOLD 1,
OLIVE PARKER 1,
AMPERO BUENAVENTURA 1, and
WILLIAM H. CROSBY 1
1 Department of Medicinc, George Washington University Medical School,
Washington, D. C., and the Department of Hematology, Walter Reed Army Institute of
Research, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, D. C.
1. Platelet and fibrinogen survival have been studied by isotope tagging
in normal and abnormal states of coagulation in humans and dogs.
2. By our technic, the normal curve of platelet survival is exponential. Evidence is given that such a curve is obtained because of random utilization of
the platelets in the continuous process of coagulation.
3. In the postoperative subject and in the subject receiving epinephrine injections, platelet survival is shortened because the process of coagulation is
speeded up. In the hypocoagulable, the curve of platelet survival becomes
more nearly linear because random platelet destruction ceases.
4. When a massive thrombus forms, platelet survival is shortened. Evidence
is given that this may be due to escape of thrombin from the clot into the
systemic circulation—with a resultant hypercoagulable state.
5. Fibrinogen survival was not altered in those states in which increased
platelet utilization occurred. This is explained by the theory that the alteration
in the hemostatic mechanism had not penetrated to the fibrinogen-fibrin stage.
6. Hypercoagulability is defined as that state in which platelet utilization is
accelerated—whether or not thrombosis occurs.
Submitted on February 17, 1960
Accepted on December 9, 1960
