The potential use of desmopressin to correct hypothermia-induced impairment of primary haemostasis—An in vitro study using PFA-100®

SummaryObjectiveMild hypothermia (32–35 °C) impairs primary haemostasis and coagulation. Correction of these haemostatic impairments by rewarming alone may not be possible or desirable, particularly in major trauma, neuroanaesthesia and in critically ill patients. Pharmacological treatment of these impairments, if available, may be a useful alternative. Desmopressin has been used to treat various congenital and acquired platelet disorders, but its effects on hypothermia-induced impairment of primary haemostasis is not known. This study aims to investigate the in vitro effects of desmopressin on hypothermia-induced impairment of primary haemostasis using PFA-100® platelet function analyzer.MethodsWhole blood was collected from 20 healthy volunteers, divided into 2.7 ml aliquots and some incubated at 32 °C, and others at 37 °C as control. Three log doses of desmopressin (0.01, 0.1 or 1 nM) were added to aliquots at 32 °C, and saline was added to controls at both 32 and 37 °C, all in 0.1 ml volume. After incubating for 30 min, closure times (CT) was measured by PFA-100® using both collagen/epinephrine (adrenaline) (Col/EPI) and collagen/adenosine-5′-diphosphate (Col/ADP) cartridges.ResultsCT was prolonged by 30.9% (Col/EPI) and 18.8% (Col/ADP) at 32 °C, respectively, compared to 37 °C (P < 0.001). All the three doses of desmopressin significantly, but incompletely corrected CT prolongation due to hypothermia (P < 0.002).ConclusionDesmopressin partially reverses hypothermia-induced impairment of primary haemostasis in vitro, and may be potentially useful in improving haemostasis in hypothermic patients with bleeding where immediate rewarming is difficult or undesirable.