Haemostatic activation in patients with head injury with and without simultaneous multiple trauma

Abstract

Sørensen J V, Jensen H P, Rahr H B, Bonis L C, Lassen M R, Fedders O, Haase J P, Knudsen F. Haemostatic activation in patients with head injury with and without simultaneous multiple trauma. Scand J Clin Lab Invest 1993; 53: 659-665.

In a prospective study including 16 patients with multiple trauma and head injury and 14 patients with isolated head injury we measured plasma levels of prothrombin fragment 1 and 2 (F₁₊₂) and thrombin/antithrombin III complex (TAT) on admission and on days 1, 2, 3, and 7 after the incident. On admission, all patients had values of F₁₊₂ and TAT above the reference range. Admission levels of both F₎₊₂ and TAT were significantly higher compared with levels on the following days. Admission levels of F₁₊₂ was significantly correlated to the Injury Severity Score. TAT was higher in patients with multiple trauma than in patients with isolated head injury and were significantly correlated to the Injury Severity Score on admission and on day 3. Levels of F₁₊₂ were significantly lower on day 1 in four patients with post-traumatic pulmonary dysfunction compared with patients without pulmonary dysfunction. With respect to levels of TAT, no differences were detected between patients with and without pulmonary dysfunction.

Key Words:

• F₁₊₂
• head injury
• multiple trauma
• post-traumatic pulmonary dysfunction
• TAT