Protection of platelets during long-term extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in sheep with a single dose of a disintegrin

Abstract

Background: Both short- and long-term extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) causes platelet loss and dysfunction. Bitistatin is a reversible inhibitor of the platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor. This study tests the hypothesis that inhibition of platelets by bitistatin during initial contact with the perfusion circuit preserves platelet number and function during long-term ECMO in sheep.

Methods and results: Bitistatin, purified from crude snake venom, was tested for its effect on platelet count, responsiveness to ADP, release of platelet factor 4, and prevention of surface-adsorbed glycoprotein IIIa in vitro and during 24 hours of ECMO in nine splenectomized sheep. During simulated extracorporeal circulation, 0.5-1.0 microgram/ml bitistatin significantly prevented platelet adhesion, attenuated release of sheep platelet factor 4, and preserved platelet responsiveness to ADP. During ECMO at 1.8 l/min for 24 hours, a single dose of bitistatin (200 micrograms/kg) (n = 4) produced higher platelet counts (p = 0.0002) and suppressed release of platelet factor 4 (p = 0.035) for 16 hours compared with five control animals. This dose of bitistatin caused an immediate inhibition of platelet aggregation; however, between 4 and 24 hours of perfusion, platelets of bitistatin-treated animals were more responsive to ADP (p < 0.0001) compared with platelets in control animals. The amount of glycoprotein IIIa antigen extracted by Triton X-100 from the perfusion circuits was reduced in bitistatin-treated sheep.

Conclusions: A single dose of bitistatin given before blood contact with the ECMO circuit briefly inhibits platelet adhesion and aggregation but thereafter preserves platelet numbers and function and suppresses alpha-granule release for 12-16 hours of ECMO.