EVALUATION OF HEMOSTATIC EFFECTIVENESS OF INFUSIBLE PLATELET MEMBRANE IN RABBITS AS A POTENTIAL SUBSTITUTE FOR PLATELET TRANSFUSION

Several platelet substitutes have been used for transfusion in human and animal models. The potential hemostatic effect of infusible platelet membrane (IPM) was investigated for evaluation its ability to reduce the prolonged bleeding time in thrombocytopenic rabbits. IPM was prepared from outdated platelet concentrates. Platelet concentrates were pooled, disrupted by freeze-thaw procedure, pasteurized for 20 hours to inactivate possible viral or bacterial contaminants. Rabbits were made thrombocytopenic by subcutaneous injection of busulfan dissolved in polyethylene glycol 400. Administration of IPM at a dose of 2 mg per kg results considerable reduction in the bleeding time. The values of bleeding time in the 48 data sets were obtained. Decrease in the percentage of bleeding time elevation during 2, 4, 6 and 24 hours after injection in the test group of rabbits were found 24.8, 39.0, 52.4 and 95.6 respectively. Reduction in the bleeding time seen in our experimental animals may support clinical potential utility of IPM as a substitute for platelets in the treatment of thrombocytopenia in humans.