Association between plasma metal elements and platelet dysfunction in trauma-induced coagulopathy rat model

Abstract

Background: Disorders of metal elements and platelet dysfunction are common in patients with trauma-induced coagulopathy (TIC).

Aim: The aim of this study was to explore the potential role of plasma metal elements in platelet dysfunction in TIC.

Methods: Thirty Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into control, hemorrhage shock (HS) and multiple injury (MI) groups. At timepoints of 0.5 and 3 h after trauma and being documented as _{HS 0.5 h}, HS_{3 h}, _{MI 0.5 h} or MI_{3 h}, blood samples were harvested for inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer, conventional coagulation function and thromboelastograph.

Results: The plasma zinc (Zn), vanadium (V) and cadmium (Ca) decreased initially in HS _{0.5 h} and recovered slightly in HS_{3 h}, whereas their plasma concentrations continued to decrease from beginning till MI_{3 h} (p < 0.05). In HS, plasma Ca, V and nickel were negatively correlated to the time taken to reach the initial formation (R), whereas R was positively correlated to plasms Zn, V, Ca and selenium in MI (p < 0.05). In MI, plasma Ca was positively correlated to maximum amplitude, and plasma V was positively correlated to platelet count (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: The plasma concentrations of Zn, V and Ca appeared to contribute to platelet dysfunction in _{HS 0.5 h}, HS_{3 h}, _{MI 0.5 h} and MI_{3 h}, which were trauma type sensitive.

Keywords: Haemorrhage shock; Metal element; Multiple injury; Platelet dysfunction; Trauma-induced coagulopathy.